tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23005373161478278812024-03-14T03:30:42.563-05:00Shirley AdventuresHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-84659767120772428882009-07-30T23:01:00.003-05:002009-07-30T23:23:56.465-05:00Aha MomentsI started something tonight that I hope to do every night, I layed Daniel down (who was already asleep) and I just stood there and watched him sleep. I thought about what a blessing he is in my life and how I thought the day would never come when I would finally be a mom. Then I decided that I would literally pray over Daniel aloud, in a soft voice. Maybe somehow Daniel would hear me in his dreams praying over him and each night I do this.... bring him one step closer to God. I asked God to help me never take for granted the blessing a child is... because one day, like when he's a teenager... I know I'm going to wonder why I wanted kids in the first place. I, of course, prayed for other things too. We are so lucky, no... blessed, to have a creator who loves us and listens to us and wants what's best for us and those we love. I knew that in becoming a mother, I would understand a different dimension of God. <br /><br />Another thought I had today was about something I realized when I was helping dad go through mom's things, it really hit me hard... how everything she owned was left behind. She didn't take ONE thing with her, not even her wedding ring. It really opened my eyes to just how insignificant THINGS are. Then I thought about how distracting those things can be... the world gets so caught up, I get so caught up in stuff! We forget why we're here and lose focus on the purpose of who and what we are. Dad and I just shook our heads and thought about all the stuff mom didn't need and left behind. We knew this, of course before... but it was so "in your face"... going through mom's things. I pray that I don't let THINGS keep me distracted from God and to always remember what riches are stored up in Heaven.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-82996344399028972892009-07-15T23:12:00.003-05:002009-07-15T23:34:03.571-05:00Hello, I'm back!I know it has been too long since I've blogged on here. Bear with me... my life has been turned upside down on me. As most of my family/ friends who care to read this knows... the Good and bad... we now have a baby boy and my mother died. <br /><br />I am doing well. I am thankful each day for the wonderful blessing Daniel is! God had perfect timing, He knew I would need Daniel as a distraction in life for dealing with the death of my mom. I miss her and have my days when I have a good hard cry, but then I start thinking about where she is... Heaven... and I immediately feel better. The selfish side of me wants mom back... however; I think about the way life was for her right before she died and am reminded that it is better that she is not here.<br /><br />I don't know if any of you out there, who are reading this, are going through some hard times or storms in your life... if you are... hang in there, God hasn't forgotten you. I was married over 12yrs before I was finally blessed with a baby. Many times I wondered if God was hearing my prayers and when my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer, my prayers became even more urgent. I don't have all the answers and am not a genious in the prayer department... but one thing I know for sure... is that God listens. He doesn't always answer our prayers in the time frame we would like, but He does answer them. I am amazed at how beautifully God orchestrated Daniel coming into our lives and mom leaving our lives. God's hand in all of that is so "in your face", you can't help but see how He really does see the big picture. I'll explain this more in my next post. I also plan to type in a prayer I wrote out on paper the night mom died. <br /><br />So.... that being said... forgive me for not posting on here in a while. I was at a loss for words... didn't know where to begin on trying to put my jumbled-up feelings into words on here. Thank you for your patience. :)Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-60460049902904483532009-03-09T10:16:00.003-05:002009-03-09T10:41:39.389-05:00Lions and Tigers and SNAKES!!! Oh my!Well today was a first for me! I was in the laundry room loading the washer, when all of the sudden my mother inlaw starts yelling, "Heather, come here quick! You've gotta see this!" I was expecting to see my dogs catching a squirrel or something, since I'd just let them out. But when I came to the foyer (where my mother inlaw was standing).... I found a baby snake instead! It was only about 4-5 inches long. I'm not really afraid of snakes... but wasn't to thrilled about sharing my house with one either. I grabbed a broom and a dust pan, swept up the snake, and dumped it out onto the street. Then killed it with the side of the broom. (I would've kept it alive, but I didn't want to find it back in the house.) I've seen a few baby geckos in the house during the summer months.... which is fine with me.... but I was pretty surprised to find a snake. Hopefully my last time to find one!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3YZfBgL1gY0AiYRVUv_29odraAfvQPxLJI_l2ZJlih1gUrtrbec34jvo1EOnF2c-xQWgo8_cIkdmIBOGSsCpfp2pvXNzAK04mKn2ySkvQ8BYVZCmiS_RG5pUkuseHkTNlRT3qnChAjw/s1600-h/DSC_0042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3YZfBgL1gY0AiYRVUv_29odraAfvQPxLJI_l2ZJlih1gUrtrbec34jvo1EOnF2c-xQWgo8_cIkdmIBOGSsCpfp2pvXNzAK04mKn2ySkvQ8BYVZCmiS_RG5pUkuseHkTNlRT3qnChAjw/s400/DSC_0042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311213126092945682" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-89301364748318182182009-03-02T15:57:00.016-06:002009-03-02T17:40:52.417-06:00Baby ThemesHere are pictures of the boy and girl bedding we got an awesome deal on. (I talked about this in an earlier blog entry.)<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglir-iDapbrtg4AwRXslQYpSaM0lziRameaQ-y9PlClLQxbOlo3v_DRO-rGSvG2pl_H7R42NhvnpcdAmcGo16_0W6Yp0tK71smDMpKE_BXiSotdvq_UGrBVlroWvUFwwhNeVYYME3YNWQ/s1600-h/DSC_0026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglir-iDapbrtg4AwRXslQYpSaM0lziRameaQ-y9PlClLQxbOlo3v_DRO-rGSvG2pl_H7R42NhvnpcdAmcGo16_0W6Yp0tK71smDMpKE_BXiSotdvq_UGrBVlroWvUFwwhNeVYYME3YNWQ/s400/DSC_0026.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308713934163661026" /></a> the diaper stacker<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTja3H3TtRSLjznni7ctiJ795R3SL5AadOBkcUJWlGKLn7h7YtKuQ4kPbZaOUm62109TV12uM3X_qN2N_Y0QkSwUuTk3sl_SobY-3cdC-S2gdyJRcEf43I8pkhyphenhyphenJ4ViTJo_uxgJ4Q8Q9w/s1600-h/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTja3H3TtRSLjznni7ctiJ795R3SL5AadOBkcUJWlGKLn7h7YtKuQ4kPbZaOUm62109TV12uM3X_qN2N_Y0QkSwUuTk3sl_SobY-3cdC-S2gdyJRcEf43I8pkhyphenhyphenJ4ViTJo_uxgJ4Q8Q9w/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308717813285252898" /></a>toy bag and diaper pad w/ cover<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtWcs0W7ZCLi7VXyvSQVHz-QLsvsgtSK2srXndyHi2WZsYr81St7hKBIlVrjhI38E56gtTc8KCOiDf97X1bNBitDAjTnTgU_p07HrozVHbjyI8-Xo1Ewnnb7I8UnePvYXJApjvE6jTNo/s1600-h/DSC_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtWcs0W7ZCLi7VXyvSQVHz-QLsvsgtSK2srXndyHi2WZsYr81St7hKBIlVrjhI38E56gtTc8KCOiDf97X1bNBitDAjTnTgU_p07HrozVHbjyI8-Xo1Ewnnb7I8UnePvYXJApjvE6jTNo/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308719022775046786" /></a><br /><br />There are 2 blankets that come with this set, the summer blanket (draped over the front) and the winter blanket (draped over the back of the crib.) The sheet is super soft and is solid baby blue. Also, to the right, you can see the clothes hamper.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEj_KaETkFIZiv9NhAR3axO7dtGshgcdVbJHBgtvkvzu4FIWBa67mqz5y3-v_SzG4VpLvPPEFiXecjhb5eVqXfFuoK5Vs_QzE8XUhAXyZbA-yHbOYJy0OLf0jqq9LropZbsXwAskohNw/s1600-h/DSC_0034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEj_KaETkFIZiv9NhAR3axO7dtGshgcdVbJHBgtvkvzu4FIWBa67mqz5y3-v_SzG4VpLvPPEFiXecjhb5eVqXfFuoK5Vs_QzE8XUhAXyZbA-yHbOYJy0OLf0jqq9LropZbsXwAskohNw/s400/DSC_0034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308720711430665634" /></a> You can see the blanket my grandmother Warder made for me. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW63pcQ8LX_p3Pd-U0Zd5MS3I9HJDYt8U5NHrzvLkbfLzM4TK1l4A6oBeA5UL_mGdaQZDvwj0EvdIaLg8zSkp1IHX5HFa9aDn4UWjON3hUhiaTQ-zfAVPmngk7sfOJvVy3DTSLAU0lk8/s1600-h/DSC_0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW63pcQ8LX_p3Pd-U0Zd5MS3I9HJDYt8U5NHrzvLkbfLzM4TK1l4A6oBeA5UL_mGdaQZDvwj0EvdIaLg8zSkp1IHX5HFa9aDn4UWjON3hUhiaTQ-zfAVPmngk7sfOJvVy3DTSLAU0lk8/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308721686699228322" /></a> the window valance<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk9gIkUI54WPMpfSgtTvhJPm11q5pyZezY82GiDMwI_9DXygqk1Sg2ihkrK7ypT2QXIqYULdy4TBwzTgt-JliiF994-RbiGo7NiwoXmQnGbcIuR1xjJ3237EOsCMXFfRYPSm3cA5G7e4/s1600-h/DSC_0035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk9gIkUI54WPMpfSgtTvhJPm11q5pyZezY82GiDMwI_9DXygqk1Sg2ihkrK7ypT2QXIqYULdy4TBwzTgt-JliiF994-RbiGo7NiwoXmQnGbcIuR1xjJ3237EOsCMXFfRYPSm3cA5G7e4/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308722639184902770" /></a> a close-up view of the toile<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiI83HsNhv8MM8CZb6T0pdVEdvxK6906lyZ0CnKDZ8wsLBYhgmndD1QcHJR7TvyFmLmXtNPv-9vg7Mk5PX3gwXqj5B89CGY5gJAIdpgSpINoNhyphenhyphenUD0ddAq_Fie78uAc_vGckLq2TbBo0/s1600-h/DSC_0027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiI83HsNhv8MM8CZb6T0pdVEdvxK6906lyZ0CnKDZ8wsLBYhgmndD1QcHJR7TvyFmLmXtNPv-9vg7Mk5PX3gwXqj5B89CGY5gJAIdpgSpINoNhyphenhyphenUD0ddAq_Fie78uAc_vGckLq2TbBo0/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308723872312553954" /></a> The night light Robert bought. I thought it was so sweet that he even thought of little accessories such as this. (He bought this bedding without me being there.)<br /><br /><br />Now... on to the girlie girl bedding....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgtHS180znvLUDavcxwxZ-Gz3FbPHug-ih20vVirVzqOfC0JrSeef7HyrUF4CHrCYWiRqIBxzZjknFhzLBVY5lXMP_tmts93PI6xTV9ro__zz-7Fe4ja643yqVxL3RKNDKwYD5wRv0bg/s1600-h/DSC_0036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgtHS180znvLUDavcxwxZ-Gz3FbPHug-ih20vVirVzqOfC0JrSeef7HyrUF4CHrCYWiRqIBxzZjknFhzLBVY5lXMP_tmts93PI6xTV9ro__zz-7Fe4ja643yqVxL3RKNDKwYD5wRv0bg/s400/DSC_0036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308726154733270178" /></a> This set came with one blanket, and no pillow, clothes hamper, toy bag, or valance. I didn't mind.... I thought the materials were gorgeous and so soft!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9lUG4xZj3V0ej3pxjN0Kohy7I5qNFy0oniP_wocUjQdsjn4QzOyVOSrRp8xAdIhDZvDKtHLxP-xwyQ6LGDuvn2Qlso6fvVCvUJpGVenGF5ArnwwxQDs_GMLI7vj6XIsIe4KQM2NfOWo/s1600-h/DSC_0037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9lUG4xZj3V0ej3pxjN0Kohy7I5qNFy0oniP_wocUjQdsjn4QzOyVOSrRp8xAdIhDZvDKtHLxP-xwyQ6LGDuvn2Qlso6fvVCvUJpGVenGF5ArnwwxQDs_GMLI7vj6XIsIe4KQM2NfOWo/s400/DSC_0037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308726663807292322" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQEthcMEA0arJGX75PW-w58NAwzTxe6_6G_rnZMim-EChmciStVxYJewGDwqvjDLt3oF1aZBAlg4YSbOoxX0JfykhI6YKsSsbZY0issd0GzilLg6b8aDwEGNC_ITASYjmfLh009vgasA/s1600-h/DSC_0038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQEthcMEA0arJGX75PW-w58NAwzTxe6_6G_rnZMim-EChmciStVxYJewGDwqvjDLt3oF1aZBAlg4YSbOoxX0JfykhI6YKsSsbZY0issd0GzilLg6b8aDwEGNC_ITASYjmfLh009vgasA/s400/DSC_0038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308727688849193922" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyt3CtFWfXENSByqjTQlEo9VOQ1Ui6gstvyris8-7enSLdcg0uG_l2MEes_Y0J8mNm9J3ENxs25gg_HD9YzBrt1N5eHZ1UucZVkzWAb0JHfh_IKp9-OIne1ZcUGSNYR0MVvxor0YoS4M/s1600-h/DSC_0039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyt3CtFWfXENSByqjTQlEo9VOQ1Ui6gstvyris8-7enSLdcg0uG_l2MEes_Y0J8mNm9J3ENxs25gg_HD9YzBrt1N5eHZ1UucZVkzWAb0JHfh_IKp9-OIne1ZcUGSNYR0MVvxor0YoS4M/s400/DSC_0039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308728398420867458" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetTlT6-cru8PtX37t0LsVc25kOmYL8mHj2eirW3TR_ibTvfjkAFFQfEwU5xYm3YmPx5GZG4DmyeFmNbGN45hyphenhyphenrZAjj2lZ1yI_UNhJJBmHprzwSr91ear-5NdiB-w1F2kBFHdzy5ocUKE/s1600-h/DSC_0041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetTlT6-cru8PtX37t0LsVc25kOmYL8mHj2eirW3TR_ibTvfjkAFFQfEwU5xYm3YmPx5GZG4DmyeFmNbGN45hyphenhyphenrZAjj2lZ1yI_UNhJJBmHprzwSr91ear-5NdiB-w1F2kBFHdzy5ocUKE/s400/DSC_0041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308729616396088098" /></a> He, of course, had to buy one for the girl too!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-87587461034009599772009-03-01T23:08:00.005-06:002009-03-01T23:49:38.374-06:00The Blessings From Life's Storms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OYxFQLQXF9BPySWWhfjjTiq4TCjewxGcHhvS_tMSnySdRQy8skt_k5vHThWBir8rQvSigjGLLEChsywwkSkTEhTp6ooQ1Dah7_uB98RVtObFGfKiazTYItdVMl_mlTab21YrDawAj2g/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OYxFQLQXF9BPySWWhfjjTiq4TCjewxGcHhvS_tMSnySdRQy8skt_k5vHThWBir8rQvSigjGLLEChsywwkSkTEhTp6ooQ1Dah7_uB98RVtObFGfKiazTYItdVMl_mlTab21YrDawAj2g/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308462230823666242" /></a><br />I found this cross in a baby store back in December when mom and I were just looking around at what's out there. I immediately knew I wanted this hung in our future child's bedroom. This verse rings true in my heart. When I was living in Louisville, I began attending a support group for women who were struggling with infertility and/or death of a baby. As many of you may know... this is a very emotional and painful experience. I would say this hurts (for me) more than losing a loved one. You feel so alone and are constantly reminded of what you are missing out on... by just being out in public. You notice every pregnant woman, you notice every baby, you see children interacting with their parents and wonder if this will ever be something I will experience. Friends try to comfort you and don't know what to say. People try to make light of the situation and it ends up hurting you more than making you feel better. You start to feel guilty for being so jealous of mothers. I have never been a jealous person.... until I went through this. Now... most days I can look at mothers and be happy that God has blessed them and hope that that mother realizes how lucky she is to have that experience. But every-now-and-then... I do get that jealous feeling. I'm not bitter about this experience. I used to be. I now can see how much this trial has made me a better person. I have learned that God is where I get my strength! God loves me even when He hasn't given me what my heart desires. God listens to my prayers and comforts me when I grieve or am in emotional despair. He hurts when I hurt. I have become a much more compassionate person towards others. I am very careful with the words I use when I am trying to comfort others... I don't try to make light of the situation... I mostly listen. I hope to one day lead a support group here for women who are going through this. It meant a great deal to me to be able to talk to other women who truely understood what I was going through. They understood why I dreaded and stopped attending baby showers and would avoid going to church on Mother's day or baby dedication day. I didn't feel alone any more. The book we read and discussed was called Hannah's Hope. It talked about Hannah's struggles in her life spiritually, mentally, physically. I had never related to anyone before in the Bible like this. It was an amazing group. That's why... when I saw this cross with the verse from Samuel... I had to have it. I don't want to forget this experience. It has helped me become the person I am today... drew me so much closer to God. I can now honestly say that I am thankful for this experience. It made my friendships deeper, my marriage richer, my heart stronger, my faith grow.... I have looked for God's presence and have found Him here, right beside me. How can I not be thankful when I have gained all this from this experience? I know that one day I will be a mother. And I am content in waiting. I have a new feeling of peace... knowing that God is in control and that He plans to "prosper me..., to give me hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11.) <br /><br />I hadn't planned on writing about this tonight. I had planned to add pictures of the baby bedding... but when I saw this picture, I couldn't help, but explain why this scripture means so much to me.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-89554831490843262132009-02-23T11:37:00.005-06:002009-02-23T13:05:21.043-06:00Exciting Times Ahead<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtcWRfMnpov_TTuiv-ECan91iYeAGJ2sMXfIemdcSqe10moDD3mh5mCjzg4B3Ra6NXWAAQBn9HAn205sXKVhJuN3v9KDfatRdhYlTOvXs34x_eYADFbK2opGwI2SXYer0vSruTuh06qE/s1600-h/495309-R1-020-8A_008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtcWRfMnpov_TTuiv-ECan91iYeAGJ2sMXfIemdcSqe10moDD3mh5mCjzg4B3Ra6NXWAAQBn9HAn205sXKVhJuN3v9KDfatRdhYlTOvXs34x_eYADFbK2opGwI2SXYer0vSruTuh06qE/s400/495309-R1-020-8A_008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306063903380398642" /></a><br />Well I guess we're ready to let all know that we are in the process of adopting a baby! The company we are using is called Adoption Network Law Firm, based out of California. We found them on the internet and really liked what we read about them. We researched them and looked them up on the Better Business Bureau and decided to go with them. We said we would take a boy or a girl or even twins. They said the average time is 4 months. We have been very busy getting all the documents and paperwork together to show that we are qualified to become parents. We have our home study this Saturday at 5pm. After our social worker types up a summary and sends it to our adoption company, we could get that anticipated phone call any day. The company we are using features couples wanting to adopt on the internet, on 3 different web sites, and has flyers in various places such as hospitals, help centers, etc. <br /><br />We are extremely excited and are patiently waiting for all to fall into place. We know God is at work in all of this and know that He already knows everything about our baby. I decided not to work this year because I knew it was time to adopt and wanted to be ready at a moments notice to be a stay at home mother. We have already bought baby furniture and have it all put together in a bedroom upstairs. Over the Christmas holidays, dad and I climbed up in his attic and found the bassinet I slept in when I was a baby, found a beautiful blanket my grandmother Warder made for me when I was a baby(in the above picture), and found some baby clothes my mother saved for me to use one day. Just recently, we went to the baby crib store (where we bought the furniture) to pick up the side rails for our baby bed (we bought the kind that can become a full size bed) and while we were there... we looked around at all the baby bedding. Well turns out... the owner of the store found out a local company, that made high end baby bedding, was going out of business and was selling all the bedding off at a great price. So... he bought all that was left and was selling it in his store. We loved a few of the bedding sets he had and knew we would never be able to find it at such a great deal, so we said "what the heck..." and bought a boy and a girl set!!! Both sets are BEAUTIFUL!! I promise to take pictures and post them on here. The boy bedding is baby blue and white colors. The fabrics are so soft, perfect for a baby. The main fabric used in the boy bedding is toile with a nursery rhyme theme. I loved it! The girl bedding is pinks and greens... with lots of chenille and floral print. It is beautiful! We didn't buy it the first time we saw it, I told Robert we should sleep on it and think about it. Well the next morning, Robert left to go buy both sets and the owner gave us an even better deal since we were buying two sets. While Robert was there, he decided to get 2 night lights that matched each set, a diaper changing pad with covers matching both bedding sets, and an extra crib sheet. He is just as excited about this baby as I am. I thought it was so sweet how excited he was about buying baby stuff. We also have purchased a car seat... red, black, and white (of course!) What other colors would a future red raider want? When we were in Dallas 3 weekends ago celebrating our 12th anniversary... we looked around at baby strollers. We found the one we want, but decided to wait until we got the baby/babies... in case we got twins. We didn't want to have to return the stroller. <br /><br />When they finish making our 3 webpages that feature us, I'll post the links, so you can look at them if you want. We've been working on all this for 2 months. We found over a hundred pictures for them to use of us and sent them to them on a disc, we have written 2 different "Dear Birthmother" letters, answered a 25 questionnaire about us, and written a 3 paragraph paper on us. On top of that, we have had FBI, Texas, and Kentucky background checks... financial statements, a doctor's note stating we are mentally and physically fit to be parents, proof of income, proof of health insurance, a copy of marriage liscence sent, employment history, 4 references, copies of drivers liscence and social security cards sent, residence history typed up, and I'm sure there is something else I'm forgetting. I just found it interesting what all kinds of information they wanted and thought you might find it interesting. We also filled out a 10 page or so form for the adoption company. The mothers wanting to put their baby up for adoption have to fill out a 50 page form! I didn't realize all the paper work adopting involves! I'm glad they want to know almost everything about a couple to make sure the baby is being placed in good hands, but it is a lot of work and very time consuming. I know it will all be totally worth it, and it really wasn't that bad, just surprising. The home study is going to take around 2-3 hours and Robert and I will be interviewed together and individually. I'll let you know more about it after this weekend. <br /><br />I know of quite a few couples considering adoption and wanted to share this with you, so you would have an idea of what adopting is all about. So far, it has been a fun experience. I enjoyed reflecting on and sharing my life with a possible birthmother. I am in such awe at the love it would take for a mother to put her baby's needs above her own and give her baby to another couple. I can't even imagine the kind of faith it would require to give the greatest gift of life away to another couple. What a miracle! Please keep us, the future baby, and future birthmother in your prayers. This is such an emotional and exciting time! :)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapidv4PvJPbtnPvVCQiXJQbULSYCqB8bIuelHiG0R6ak02OcvKP8s35ZLeCoLspe0BLRG3-vo9_J3tZ_VZYMnUYoIs6lCiHs4ZCmiLJY4tycGDz1S3C4w5esIs7AHc1dclYKHt9oTJfc/s1600-h/495309-R1-024-10A_010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapidv4PvJPbtnPvVCQiXJQbULSYCqB8bIuelHiG0R6ak02OcvKP8s35ZLeCoLspe0BLRG3-vo9_J3tZ_VZYMnUYoIs6lCiHs4ZCmiLJY4tycGDz1S3C4w5esIs7AHc1dclYKHt9oTJfc/s400/495309-R1-024-10A_010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306068556316099218" /></a> This is the dresser that came with the furniture set. I think I'm going to keep the brass bed in there since the baby room is upstairs... I want to be able to sleep in there near the baby if I need to.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8B89wCaByXnBQSbVNbDimxs5FrzsqlF8X8zRwCSbkOHCqzFEMO0gmOJg6ogIumdiXM88om_6Oq9jJAZb8zbzFKCpcXDcxlsNpTVs00IWx9veh7deIt_Mq9z7Js9vDXSYwJVFlOQE1Ww/s1600-h/495309-R1-026-11A_011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8B89wCaByXnBQSbVNbDimxs5FrzsqlF8X8zRwCSbkOHCqzFEMO0gmOJg6ogIumdiXM88om_6Oq9jJAZb8zbzFKCpcXDcxlsNpTVs00IWx9veh7deIt_Mq9z7Js9vDXSYwJVFlOQE1Ww/s400/495309-R1-026-11A_011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306068970784045618" /></a> This is the baby bed that can be transformed to a toddler bad and a full size bed. (The back of the crib will become the head board and the front of the crib will be the foot board.) You can see the blanket my grandmother Warder made for me draped over the front of the crib. Also in this picture is the hutch that came with the set. This will be where I'll change diapers. :)Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-24589291263506697622008-12-14T20:54:00.005-06:002008-12-14T21:26:07.939-06:00White Rock MarathonMy parents came out to visit me this week and weekend, so we could go together to White Rock Marathon in downtown Dallas, TX. This was my first marathon to ever attend. And no.... I was a cheerleader, not a runner. My brother, Brad, ran his first marathon. So.... we got up at 3:30 am and got ready and made the 2 hour drive to Dallas. When we got there the traffic was horrific. Mr. McDermott, Brad's father in law, called us and told us where to meet them. We decided to by-pass the start of the race and catch up with Brad at mile markers 3, 7, 12, 21, and 26. It was neat to see all the people standing on the sides cheering for loved ones and complete strangers. There were cow bells, pom poms, signs, live bands playing, and lots of cheering and clapping to encourage the runners. We ran into a few friends that had a family member also in the race. (How cool is that?) Brad ran the 1/2 marathon with his father in law last year. He began training for this during the summer. I am so proud of him!!! What an accomplishment!<br /><br />Here are a few pictures I snagged from my sister in law....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCDsEJ532_J7wzK0x0c5VUH2jkdvmeRqMAhsNpgSe0abd2dVc3vxaZ-o8b-X_DjJuhSdcwg05why2i86bq2B1PNe3aLr3vQXXkTxzh3rX9XoQW-6cwIfwvpNn5O5cA7PxlQ_tBO_9h_c/s1600-h/232323232%7Ffp4324-%3Evq=3258%3E8%3C2%3E5;7%3EWSNRCG=3233;-38;;827vq0mrj.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCDsEJ532_J7wzK0x0c5VUH2jkdvmeRqMAhsNpgSe0abd2dVc3vxaZ-o8b-X_DjJuhSdcwg05why2i86bq2B1PNe3aLr3vQXXkTxzh3rX9XoQW-6cwIfwvpNn5O5cA7PxlQ_tBO_9h_c/s400/232323232%7Ffp4324-%3Evq=3258%3E8%3C2%3E5;7%3EWSNRCG=3233;-38;;827vq0mrj.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279848741835802850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JnBt2hq8sYPoUayFFwD9Nxjj7_YHFBWGwwFkjCHvyr7gKrs1IkBsT0Mu4VWeqaRzGq46EPLfH4UKKqnsORrBVDwE37TQgGW3igjQks-pA2Ysyv589TFBccFF_KcLu1sSqBGMoedwN9c/s1600-h/232323232%7Ffp4334;%3Evq=3258%3E8%3C2%3E5;7%3EWSNRCG=3233;-38%3C6446vq0mrj.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JnBt2hq8sYPoUayFFwD9Nxjj7_YHFBWGwwFkjCHvyr7gKrs1IkBsT0Mu4VWeqaRzGq46EPLfH4UKKqnsORrBVDwE37TQgGW3igjQks-pA2Ysyv589TFBccFF_KcLu1sSqBGMoedwN9c/s400/232323232%7Ffp4334;%3Evq=3258%3E8%3C2%3E5;7%3EWSNRCG=3233;-38%3C6446vq0mrj.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279849253904868274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpnQ2EaYYsYSNf7I6rG-xuFi9kfjJIYI0PMg1m4Z7RX1h5qZhrRIwYrnDSjjyLYEfgwFIvVWDRRRCxOrabKc2JlFmV8e_FtlMNK8GbuDSCPy2EP4UavEVe1JhF8KUSoNL2riLzXOHYMA/s1600-h/232323232%7Ffp4336-%3Evq=3258%3E8%3C2%3E5;7%3EWSNRCG=3233;-38%3C466%3Cvq0mrj.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpnQ2EaYYsYSNf7I6rG-xuFi9kfjJIYI0PMg1m4Z7RX1h5qZhrRIwYrnDSjjyLYEfgwFIvVWDRRRCxOrabKc2JlFmV8e_FtlMNK8GbuDSCPy2EP4UavEVe1JhF8KUSoNL2riLzXOHYMA/s400/232323232%7Ffp4336-%3Evq=3258%3E8%3C2%3E5;7%3EWSNRCG=3233;-38%3C466%3Cvq0mrj.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279849554651333522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwtIsdJcOboGrsVJfFihzhnkSlX0EX5r_wRjNM1par6OA5GntfWFrlHFjdg-fvre4mbdIpyNLshcE-X49egQTo-kDw6a5naSN7Qgdw78CX0fvCWdVbAQItMnFtUDGxG6kFJU897z-rcw/s1600-h/232323232%7Ffp43252%3Evq=3258%3E8%3C2%3E5;7%3EWSNRCG=3233;-38;;82%3Cvq0mrj.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwtIsdJcOboGrsVJfFihzhnkSlX0EX5r_wRjNM1par6OA5GntfWFrlHFjdg-fvre4mbdIpyNLshcE-X49egQTo-kDw6a5naSN7Qgdw78CX0fvCWdVbAQItMnFtUDGxG6kFJU897z-rcw/s400/232323232%7Ffp43252%3Evq=3258%3E8%3C2%3E5;7%3EWSNRCG=3233;-38;;82%3Cvq0mrj.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279849727086006306" /></a><br /><br />The picture on the left is of a sign Lisa, Brad's wife, made for him. Lots of runners would smile and point out the sign to other fellow runners. Seeing the cheerful face of my beautiful niece, Claire, seemed to cheer everyone up! Lisa, Brad, and Claire are in that picture. It's a photo taken right after the race ended. Thank you, Lisa and Claire, for supporting Brad during it all.... the countless hours of training that took away many, many hours of time with you. My brother is such an amazing, inspiring person. Way to go, Brad! :)<br /><br />** I know the pictures are very small, I will add bigger pictures later when I snag those from my dad and download a few from my phone. :)Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-47781918083977942852008-12-03T11:51:00.002-06:002008-12-03T12:18:39.621-06:00ThankfulThanksgiving was really special for me this year. I was so happy to host my first Thanksgiving lunch/dinner at our house. It felt so good to be back in Texas where our family could easily come visit us. Robert's side of the family came and joined us on Saturday to celebrate, since he was on call Thanksgiving Day. I am so thankful for family! I cannot tell you how hard it was for me to live so far from family, the past 5 years in Kentucky. I am thankful for that experience.... it taught me to not take family for granted. <br /><br />I am also so thankful that because I am not working this year... I can be a part of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship.) It is an amazing Bible study that dives deep into the Word of God. The questions you are asked in the study really make you think and rely on the Holy Spirit to help you gain wisdom and understanding from the Bible. My parents have been a part of BSF and I saw how much closer they came to God, and I couldn't wait for that opportunity in my life. If you ever get the chance... you should go to BSF. It has richly blessed me.<br /><br />What really stood out more than anything this Thanksgiving.... is how thankful I am for my mother. She is fighting stage 4 breast cancer which has spread to her liver and now recently her lungs. I am so thankful that we got to be close friends when I left for college. We weren't always close when I was a teenager, but through both of us being teachers.... it brought us so much closer. When my mother retired from teaching, she started coming once a week to my classroom. She helped me with bulletin boards, art projects, reading to my students... and many more things. It was such a special time for both of us. My students especially thought she was the coolest.... she was Mrs. Parsons and they went to Parsons Elementary. :) I also am thankful for the time mom and I spent together preparing and planning for my wedding. We had so much fun together and spent so much time together and loved being together. I am so thankful that she could be a part of that time in my life. I treasure those experiences. I don't know if she will be here when the moment comes of when I hold my 1st baby in my arms, but I know when that time comes..... I'll know that she somehow knows and is a part of that moment. I pray that she does live to make it to that moment in my life. I am thankful that I have such a wonderful mom who set such a good example for me when my time comes to be a mother. <br /><br />I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to share.... I decided to share my heart with you instead. I hope you were able to reflect on all that you are thankful for and what God has blessed you with. May God continue to bless you.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-36181912563530572152008-11-17T14:14:00.018-06:002008-11-17T15:54:44.087-06:00Texas FlairI dedicate this post to all my friends out in Louisville, KY. I loved telling them about Texas while I lived there and they seemed to enjoy hearing about it. My teacher buddies and I would talk about how different things were as far as wildlife and scenery goes compared to KY. So... while I was out-and-about driving all over Texas this summer.... I decided to take a few snapshots of things I find special in TX. <br /><br />First stop... Sweetwater and Roscoe, TX. You would be amazed at all the windmills in west Texas! It is quite a sight to see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpWhn0gWr2qTEdWEaPcKWFOa7AsXDStM0xwzcsD43VBwdqMr3NGtd9p4o68geoqrMUbjqIK25P-CX3TPGQHHY6BlZhweDJkiA9u8iQzPGxBiVo_MVEYV45DYKB18re8zKI_NaqYuiDDw/s1600-h/DSC_0135.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpWhn0gWr2qTEdWEaPcKWFOa7AsXDStM0xwzcsD43VBwdqMr3NGtd9p4o68geoqrMUbjqIK25P-CX3TPGQHHY6BlZhweDJkiA9u8iQzPGxBiVo_MVEYV45DYKB18re8zKI_NaqYuiDDw/s400/DSC_0135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269725980280829346" /></a><br /><br />There are more than 100 windmills on this one hill in Sweetwater. There is definitely wind here to supply power!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacyCUG0ubNmnFfa1yKf39sjn3hwI4puQmFlxmfZ2NDitUoce_ATD_WcfNE787qxbCtiXCgrw0KNhJzZluuPY-lg2grUglvOSTrUfFITTL9XU-Si3x4YMi8pgRtiDf6nOWHgvAi5ERMEM/s1600-h/DSC_0225.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacyCUG0ubNmnFfa1yKf39sjn3hwI4puQmFlxmfZ2NDitUoce_ATD_WcfNE787qxbCtiXCgrw0KNhJzZluuPY-lg2grUglvOSTrUfFITTL9XU-Si3x4YMi8pgRtiDf6nOWHgvAi5ERMEM/s320/DSC_0225.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269727049707053010" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoQeKK9h9wgXtfPmNxJazsR_KL6uBw7-MfOxrrGBrF5L5ceHCqWhzwXh0k1hXNNyNvEpDr3mbAXSHXn2r0EblHKEeNUuc6FrJYa_anD6zWRG6-8HQvxy2lBMoMhDZRySqWy3uj7_LtzQ/s1600-h/DSC_0229.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoQeKK9h9wgXtfPmNxJazsR_KL6uBw7-MfOxrrGBrF5L5ceHCqWhzwXh0k1hXNNyNvEpDr3mbAXSHXn2r0EblHKEeNUuc6FrJYa_anD6zWRG6-8HQvxy2lBMoMhDZRySqWy3uj7_LtzQ/s320/DSC_0229.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269727571877949730" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next stop.... Lubbock, TX where I grew up. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG25S3_jkUcApzAhpxr9A428gXbdjfZnCjpoeV8_HQSPNrhjznZTLCxo3V3pylLj0_b1uJvAAOC4nhiz_sT18m7vf-ZDFBXgD5MvClVh5nJ0mVmm9MR4QqfhoSSOyOkN6UBbpnxqSUzA/s1600-h/DSC_0128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG25S3_jkUcApzAhpxr9A428gXbdjfZnCjpoeV8_HQSPNrhjznZTLCxo3V3pylLj0_b1uJvAAOC4nhiz_sT18m7vf-ZDFBXgD5MvClVh5nJ0mVmm9MR4QqfhoSSOyOkN6UBbpnxqSUzA/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269731016004884882" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfAJVGn0RzPaAq2P1VXUBl5YLuM1H2KhXACWLpqfpXL3eseocANVgWvhgfoGRfyyZltj1yR1f_alzxusSTH5Y7Vt31bfscGC16cgLqtMhlyMJtSS2pHo9EtMNeMTzjiuWXE84Lg1umJA/s1600-h/DSC_0132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfAJVGn0RzPaAq2P1VXUBl5YLuM1H2KhXACWLpqfpXL3eseocANVgWvhgfoGRfyyZltj1yR1f_alzxusSTH5Y7Vt31bfscGC16cgLqtMhlyMJtSS2pHo9EtMNeMTzjiuWXE84Lg1umJA/s400/DSC_0132.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269731585357763362" /></a><br /><br />These jack rabbits live on an area near the University Medical Hospital, where Robert trained for medical school. In the middle of the day they hang out under the trees. I love their long ears. <br /><br />There are lots of prairie dog colonies throughout Lubbock. This colony is out on the land near Monterey Church of Christ's new location. (This is the church I grew up going to.) My dad took these pictures of the burrowing owls out among the prairie dog homes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeNJ-XKDmLouG45aXC1CGpW71uN-7vaG3NMVFCKKjV5dhcyYfpHupm3Lqs5wGPixjvjG-8uTedNP1pbupP14YKohq1eGXyOqAIXx-xhDgd-0qut881o4iyRYJ3OZjdnfbHkVQtIe20Fs/s1600-h/IMG_0784_0522_522.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeNJ-XKDmLouG45aXC1CGpW71uN-7vaG3NMVFCKKjV5dhcyYfpHupm3Lqs5wGPixjvjG-8uTedNP1pbupP14YKohq1eGXyOqAIXx-xhDgd-0qut881o4iyRYJ3OZjdnfbHkVQtIe20Fs/s400/IMG_0784_0522_522.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269734719936327986" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedUnfkw_7TvsCY1q4bctVusTNZtiNpzryrmIn3YyqidhffAAjWv4Jidw8dsG9m8HuthbEzG2U3UbFBuLQIIcXlqBocIDizjKECpgbTtrkfY91q_FjeIu7E9Qn_hLM5oRNtdnOLoUO16M/s1600-h/IMG_0780_0526_526.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedUnfkw_7TvsCY1q4bctVusTNZtiNpzryrmIn3YyqidhffAAjWv4Jidw8dsG9m8HuthbEzG2U3UbFBuLQIIcXlqBocIDizjKECpgbTtrkfY91q_FjeIu7E9Qn_hLM5oRNtdnOLoUO16M/s200/IMG_0780_0526_526.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269735591864895074" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRJRlnFQnFWWRh2dn7FmNSmcSx1Bb0LN45sjG78W2Y_9O730RCincams4fgov_uP3pGIZ2lKANAOUAlC5080vRgjXMikbtZHakFQDODg5Fwqv0Im3cxGCVnb-LeB8wq2pEAfeXLKru50/s1600-h/IMG_0794_0512_512.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRJRlnFQnFWWRh2dn7FmNSmcSx1Bb0LN45sjG78W2Y_9O730RCincams4fgov_uP3pGIZ2lKANAOUAlC5080vRgjXMikbtZHakFQDODg5Fwqv0Im3cxGCVnb-LeB8wq2pEAfeXLKru50/s200/IMG_0794_0512_512.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269736848619311458" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There is a little lake in my parent's neighborhood and during the year there are lots of mallard ducks that live there. This picture was taken by my dad this past spring. He told me that he counted 13 ducklings swimming behind their momma. In the fall there are lots of Canadian geese that land here and stay for the winter.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLybB3XqDyPvUM2ROlcRapOhSnVj__sNFSZGQCvjDLBd9JgcVIdDPTUBbCcy9NwZDe2JR-fPzHH3QTpM2HYVMVRcicJ5hhEhN2ebcEA8fhVEDxWAvAfe4d1Ed9NYvwVBio6BYfgcrQUoY/s1600-h/IMG_0911_0394_394.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLybB3XqDyPvUM2ROlcRapOhSnVj__sNFSZGQCvjDLBd9JgcVIdDPTUBbCcy9NwZDe2JR-fPzHH3QTpM2HYVMVRcicJ5hhEhN2ebcEA8fhVEDxWAvAfe4d1Ed9NYvwVBio6BYfgcrQUoY/s400/IMG_0911_0394_394.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269741328242819458" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CJlpeq7QZJayG-Awv_wbRdd5qCYmTuDOXDI8AKLluvmzGnucYKsbFgkrp-cs_a_3T75f8SYSk7YkYCBB5eVVvraZi104Rp2CpbJ6eOBpPwJb3QhB28M1PXhljPyAhxfhiPjviHtSuBc/s1600-h/IMG_0903_0403_403.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CJlpeq7QZJayG-Awv_wbRdd5qCYmTuDOXDI8AKLluvmzGnucYKsbFgkrp-cs_a_3T75f8SYSk7YkYCBB5eVVvraZi104Rp2CpbJ6eOBpPwJb3QhB28M1PXhljPyAhxfhiPjviHtSuBc/s320/IMG_0903_0403_403.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269741862278484482" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXdooMI27GIevT1HY2-lHrHzosdBb7Rxz6eXi0w0RQ5ffcZMmcuU5xvdlocEE8GT7LStJEPci6Qud9OedarNMY0C53eAFhQBnchT530PPLk8QHFR9V-30lTdXvuXIjqZHkOS-8nuBlkg/s1600-h/IMG_0909_0396_396.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXdooMI27GIevT1HY2-lHrHzosdBb7Rxz6eXi0w0RQ5ffcZMmcuU5xvdlocEE8GT7LStJEPci6Qud9OedarNMY0C53eAFhQBnchT530PPLk8QHFR9V-30lTdXvuXIjqZHkOS-8nuBlkg/s320/IMG_0909_0396_396.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269742189642655858" /></a><br /><br /><br />This next picture was taken in my backyard. One night I looked out my back window and found this beautiful moth on my back patio.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj2i9C9rYmZLh3TkxFmRlingrw0RZJNcIivp4ktbrds-kwj0sA3uwd6qxMo6OEa0-oWrcRzVlSDQL-d3IBnQksiFuZVlXVaJ9vo_x4oby8tl7aMWFvkCvtr5Fkz1EaIbfcQFW4wHADe4/s1600-h/DSC_0165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj2i9C9rYmZLh3TkxFmRlingrw0RZJNcIivp4ktbrds-kwj0sA3uwd6qxMo6OEa0-oWrcRzVlSDQL-d3IBnQksiFuZVlXVaJ9vo_x4oby8tl7aMWFvkCvtr5Fkz1EaIbfcQFW4wHADe4/s400/DSC_0165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269743155888386530" /></a><br /><br />We have a lot of lizards around our yard in the summer. This one loved sunbathing out on the birdhouse I had sitting out in my "things to put up later pile." I watched him crawl over to the wing and turn from green to brown. I couldn't resist taking a picture of him soaking up some rays.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHgeS3ISuubx9CcgoOiCtSal9HTi86dX7MJmzhzppUzkDbeR3BTSNvofu7GYearpdpe5eMTQDzfoSvXc2WdkYrkUpIYyOp9Gi0dAz-NsWPkvNgsVoUaoGE2senNM33cYmRtzMsv6-DSw/s1600-h/DSC_0209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHgeS3ISuubx9CcgoOiCtSal9HTi86dX7MJmzhzppUzkDbeR3BTSNvofu7GYearpdpe5eMTQDzfoSvXc2WdkYrkUpIYyOp9Gi0dAz-NsWPkvNgsVoUaoGE2senNM33cYmRtzMsv6-DSw/s400/DSC_0209.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269744365064628834" /></a><br /><br />These last two pictures are not what I would call anything special about TX. You find opposums pretty much anywhere... but this one was too close for comfort. This one decided to help himself to the cat food I had put out for our cat. I was watching TV one night when suddenly my dogs started barking hysterically at the back sliding door. I looked out and saw her eating from the cat bowl, ignoring my 2 dogs barking at her inches from her face. I ran and got my camera, but she had started taking off toward the back corner of our yard. I was able to snap a few shots of her climbing up onto a storage shed for pool supplies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbWdpnl9g0ogKgpyCjX2eBJBeWM3HZbRMgKWekL8Qt65Kek2V4AeUwdBqRKpANOIiXJWGn2eYknaOywEafA7Ote7sf7-cnnBjBGLJJ547W-f-T6v-SS5NJKW0x_F1AApZS0LEaZIwCZk/s1600-h/DSC_0194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbWdpnl9g0ogKgpyCjX2eBJBeWM3HZbRMgKWekL8Qt65Kek2V4AeUwdBqRKpANOIiXJWGn2eYknaOywEafA7Ote7sf7-cnnBjBGLJJ547W-f-T6v-SS5NJKW0x_F1AApZS0LEaZIwCZk/s320/DSC_0194.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269746657347339346" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSFwFjm9X4ahJB8WJ4DsTKcIhoXYYhkgj-DwavhuLjzlR5L5R-Wsxk_Mh0muP1TN-VrNlGuhTrHJWCtOqAXFBhquDczngQ8tpiiCQKYRRZbRa_c_oFCKXG9SNOrickRwDdBoGt4OQyuI/s1600-h/DSC_0202.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSFwFjm9X4ahJB8WJ4DsTKcIhoXYYhkgj-DwavhuLjzlR5L5R-Wsxk_Mh0muP1TN-VrNlGuhTrHJWCtOqAXFBhquDczngQ8tpiiCQKYRRZbRa_c_oFCKXG9SNOrickRwDdBoGt4OQyuI/s320/DSC_0202.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269747183317509522" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-17762953575060686452008-11-17T11:33:00.019-06:002008-11-17T14:14:25.605-06:00Texas Tech's College Gameday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WSepanWwXQtQEaexYBVZX82w1Hu6a89etuT3LYf-HOq99CwsLp77o9zaLUUOk8xxLeqG62Ng_w-WVjZ6scTJI3_oTK6UmSecodYl3UKuSwyQKDSOARVSVNA5qSk27-v77kWwG64EYtk/s1600-h/DSC_0121.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WSepanWwXQtQEaexYBVZX82w1Hu6a89etuT3LYf-HOq99CwsLp77o9zaLUUOk8xxLeqG62Ng_w-WVjZ6scTJI3_oTK6UmSecodYl3UKuSwyQKDSOARVSVNA5qSk27-v77kWwG64EYtk/s320/DSC_0121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269713322156703538" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Robert and I decided to buy season tickets for the Tech football games this year, and boy was that a good decision! It has been an awesome season.... the best ever! The weekend of the Texas Tech vs Texas game, we decided to get up at 6am on Saturday and head out to the Texas Tech campus for ESPN's College Gameday. We were so excited that Tech was finally going to host this event in Lubbock. We got there around 7:15 - 7:30am. The broadcasting wasn't going to start till 9am, but we wanted to get there in hopes of being up front behind the platform. We ended up being around 5 people back. There were homemade signs EVERYWHERE!!! The crowd was so pumped up! The whole weekend was full of energy, actually the whole week leading up to the game.... according to my parents, who live in Lubbock. They told the crowd that they had never seen so many signs and that they were impressed with the energy of the fans. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AgrLs6DKymwJM8UqEbZfbcvwSsrBDYxMwZaNffjf2WKtFysdFI3XYbZGGKrUQqWNRN2C7kJW8bkl0dmihA0Ni2QDjRNtNhEmEVGqZp45g1slV1yEPc9F19s4_7Xb8nalX0YfQA731SQ/s1600-h/DSC_0233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AgrLs6DKymwJM8UqEbZfbcvwSsrBDYxMwZaNffjf2WKtFysdFI3XYbZGGKrUQqWNRN2C7kJW8bkl0dmihA0Ni2QDjRNtNhEmEVGqZp45g1slV1yEPc9F19s4_7Xb8nalX0YfQA731SQ/s400/DSC_0233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269686134079129714" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQgv796wE7gmsgg_f_X1a47TpfCOSoh0s2Ult1M573AKDwmgWH4LGtENdpNwKqP_exi4BX6O2brGvk-yGGgPlCE30OfScIsIjLNArFGL_tpMi8PLiqGtTRvZnAnyWMZhqOSoNWtQZI0E/s1600-h/DSC_0234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQgv796wE7gmsgg_f_X1a47TpfCOSoh0s2Ult1M573AKDwmgWH4LGtENdpNwKqP_exi4BX6O2brGvk-yGGgPlCE30OfScIsIjLNArFGL_tpMi8PLiqGtTRvZnAnyWMZhqOSoNWtQZI0E/s400/DSC_0234.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269688435425989074" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2pH3LeZF9nJWtdb7PpD6XWC4m8YM2Otzoj5ShH14GdAp0wBOzc_3r5GRf5SDooHe0mr9SKamuHqHZPH4rW2XZ3BaZo0DEW_An_v8fS9kI_ki7Z_xcpbfdiT4sWSQY3dzIieURyMM3Qc/s1600-h/DSC_0235.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2pH3LeZF9nJWtdb7PpD6XWC4m8YM2Otzoj5ShH14GdAp0wBOzc_3r5GRf5SDooHe0mr9SKamuHqHZPH4rW2XZ3BaZo0DEW_An_v8fS9kI_ki7Z_xcpbfdiT4sWSQY3dzIieURyMM3Qc/s400/DSC_0235.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269689263590498034" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L2EzfNWTYNFUjRHyOiPF02a3EhQZKBXbU526JM4obIINhGJ8lzUugMU7-k684cUksUW5dx3_uc1omHh0Zh6seuO65S6CT9d3lsbtmlpIGwxFQDS19muQyMUnvul9Y3hjDAKJj_ibaoI/s1600-h/DSC_0236.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L2EzfNWTYNFUjRHyOiPF02a3EhQZKBXbU526JM4obIINhGJ8lzUugMU7-k684cUksUW5dx3_uc1omHh0Zh6seuO65S6CT9d3lsbtmlpIGwxFQDS19muQyMUnvul9Y3hjDAKJj_ibaoI/s400/DSC_0236.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269690968269535298" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q1c3Xjl1bCRx20mn0YjaS7z-OOktEWYTHOzx2f61Dbo6uStj1s7JE47lUn1N-ZSGS0usK1LvJJ_bJsHBxW3E3FrKmtg_7YZOiTafPz9jifkdocVG5VVwFMRtL_iM9PaE6tR7yZN4jYw/s1600-h/DSC_0238.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q1c3Xjl1bCRx20mn0YjaS7z-OOktEWYTHOzx2f61Dbo6uStj1s7JE47lUn1N-ZSGS0usK1LvJJ_bJsHBxW3E3FrKmtg_7YZOiTafPz9jifkdocVG5VVwFMRtL_iM9PaE6tR7yZN4jYw/s400/DSC_0238.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269692275392877890" /></a><br /><br />Coach Mike Leach loves pirate stuff.... so there were lots of pirate signs and flags. There were even T-shirts printed with the skull and cross bones for the weekend on black T-shirts. The half time show at the game was even a pirate theme. All the members from the Going Band from Raiderland had pirate scarves on their heads and a few "retired" band members (including my cousin, Kathryn) dressed up like pirates and ran around the field passing out eye patches to fans on the front row. The flag girls held pirate flags while the band played music from the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean." During the show, the band did a skull and cross bones formation and at one point appeared to be "fighting" as they scrambled into another formation. It was a great half time show, to go with the best game ever!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsjNAsJSB-wM6w1Uzu-Nmr6jxjfKzOqQ5a3revHVmmME5Vy2NlSrjZ3NKFt1XU56a2-lUIkqoPWTZ0jNkh8tkQ0jRQiVtYxNlEsq9W5KUQYPKR3spKtUVWZaiujDM8y5-GPlzn7BDK18/s1600-h/DSC_0239.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsjNAsJSB-wM6w1Uzu-Nmr6jxjfKzOqQ5a3revHVmmME5Vy2NlSrjZ3NKFt1XU56a2-lUIkqoPWTZ0jNkh8tkQ0jRQiVtYxNlEsq9W5KUQYPKR3spKtUVWZaiujDM8y5-GPlzn7BDK18/s400/DSC_0239.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269692873483645506" /></a><br /><br />You can see how close we were to the stage.... just off to the left of the back of the stage, near the goal post.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-qIZd3R5MYn0GLS3NHdUvh7_pK_vjzS7KuZzLcyKMunRrdVyprkQO7QzJR4vnq2Z3eOiBrbxJNDOfUwDA5CT4EdLW0ydnZgwegtGj6LGwbCwCSUwLxLB8ltkHCWsm7jOuel8F6qKBt4/s1600-h/DSC_0243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-qIZd3R5MYn0GLS3NHdUvh7_pK_vjzS7KuZzLcyKMunRrdVyprkQO7QzJR4vnq2Z3eOiBrbxJNDOfUwDA5CT4EdLW0ydnZgwegtGj6LGwbCwCSUwLxLB8ltkHCWsm7jOuel8F6qKBt4/s400/DSC_0243.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269706818990543026" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HV5mB__TWZEc2JLWVLxDA9uNbGA_gKrSHhwwVYAe7JXN8O77mp39DPqVn7vuoH8AqpHnPXQxH6ldeP2B7srh5mbF69OoROWNorbRgh4kv9jUbm-ANJ06yQdQddg8-OMN2MFoQcCf_xQ/s1600-h/DSC_0244.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HV5mB__TWZEc2JLWVLxDA9uNbGA_gKrSHhwwVYAe7JXN8O77mp39DPqVn7vuoH8AqpHnPXQxH6ldeP2B7srh5mbF69OoROWNorbRgh4kv9jUbm-ANJ06yQdQddg8-OMN2MFoQcCf_xQ/s400/DSC_0244.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269707531320304098" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKzOSJFbuHdpQNQ2DXby3aTdzZbBRzSWp_ccw-njqD3d_WjPeLL8XTSlqNCvh1AWijEib26cucEKjFjUVeB0rdaOIQ6ov93bspboFrCHaCj6MlI_nTKTd0he_ud9JX7v-hmSumEd3oZM/s1600-h/DSC_0245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKzOSJFbuHdpQNQ2DXby3aTdzZbBRzSWp_ccw-njqD3d_WjPeLL8XTSlqNCvh1AWijEib26cucEKjFjUVeB0rdaOIQ6ov93bspboFrCHaCj6MlI_nTKTd0he_ud9JX7v-hmSumEd3oZM/s400/DSC_0245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269708252104599858" /></a><br /><br />This sign was one of my favorites. It was titled, "Pirates of the Plains." Crabtree, Harrell, and Leach are pictured as the pirates.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWLfXHG-cGZ7mC-HrUZYlzk2bewfuQ4PMWQj2pR5fbbpuqz-0w782tFvL649CViG0KjCNPeU2GX7t0XtuXUDiS8I4QXJAz2p0JOHo_Z-soXCIU8lKqiLdZFTqvEuU8eO_dXCpj7N7CPg/s1600-h/DSC_0247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWLfXHG-cGZ7mC-HrUZYlzk2bewfuQ4PMWQj2pR5fbbpuqz-0w782tFvL649CViG0KjCNPeU2GX7t0XtuXUDiS8I4QXJAz2p0JOHo_Z-soXCIU8lKqiLdZFTqvEuU8eO_dXCpj7N7CPg/s400/DSC_0247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269710659599035650" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe7_hz4rUF9iY1HeYZGcOI95T5PMje52gDxlrQXbGnHDlcfP5KxVlpdaXbCqI7MxmhbfL6ZkwYbefc5KDWqJ-ZAYpA1P7Jtz1Faz3gz1xfBpF3W3xzTFlw9c5ZoDizXd-wD3QrXODFUc/s1600-h/DSC_0249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe7_hz4rUF9iY1HeYZGcOI95T5PMje52gDxlrQXbGnHDlcfP5KxVlpdaXbCqI7MxmhbfL6ZkwYbefc5KDWqJ-ZAYpA1P7Jtz1Faz3gz1xfBpF3W3xzTFlw9c5ZoDizXd-wD3QrXODFUc/s400/DSC_0249.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269711795868096994" /></a><br /> <br />Another favorite! It said... "Colt? More like my little pony." Colt McCoy's head was placed on a my little pony toy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5nabHyoC31bDN68FdU73FzL5HzBDYUSMyTHBYh0kNKqIXTqhhxfSZL_3e3rHlfDSfjvBNSrQVCM2I3x43frqaTCEkV-DDEgVmjapI5HFbHi6aHP2xgYD7BB11V2FEx8FqchV7YBdKvA/s1600-h/DSC_0253.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5nabHyoC31bDN68FdU73FzL5HzBDYUSMyTHBYh0kNKqIXTqhhxfSZL_3e3rHlfDSfjvBNSrQVCM2I3x43frqaTCEkV-DDEgVmjapI5HFbHi6aHP2xgYD7BB11V2FEx8FqchV7YBdKvA/s400/DSC_0253.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269712320482157458" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94DMMX5yzspUKbnP7aMa4OR2T0720qCnZ8NV0-Ftt_kkeNuGaGhcRRYz6Ze-wl_aCi2d9USxuRKlsjmx5_RySS7aehELtuw7AYa3on27yQf6bf1KB_tavzFVLCq6gIdnVhX8IYSI-KQU/s1600-h/DSC_0255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94DMMX5yzspUKbnP7aMa4OR2T0720qCnZ8NV0-Ftt_kkeNuGaGhcRRYz6Ze-wl_aCi2d9USxuRKlsjmx5_RySS7aehELtuw7AYa3on27yQf6bf1KB_tavzFVLCq6gIdnVhX8IYSI-KQU/s400/DSC_0255.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269716726715812642" /></a><br /><br />As we were leaving the Gameday event, we had to stop by and take a few pictures of out favorite features on the campus. Here we are in front of Will Rogers on his horse, Soapsuds. Soapsuds rear end faces toward the Aggies' Kyle Field. (One of the bell towers is in the background. You can hear the bells ringing as you leave the game after a Texas Tech win.) The Texas Tech Saddle Tramps decorate this statue before every home game.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTs8bL_lOR6EZe3RcW45pC-yTCXC1ylygbZXMhIBZwnUi6aI7fh5BzqzYfPfxnljIc0IvozaLtYoLJKoj4-cXG8KB6TTttCw9QJks2JLi_cGIkK-6srsSwU6QxHEjRjigVzdm7XgO6co/s1600-h/DSC_0257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTs8bL_lOR6EZe3RcW45pC-yTCXC1ylygbZXMhIBZwnUi6aI7fh5BzqzYfPfxnljIc0IvozaLtYoLJKoj4-cXG8KB6TTttCw9QJks2JLi_cGIkK-6srsSwU6QxHEjRjigVzdm7XgO6co/s400/DSC_0257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269717413060739554" /></a><br /><br />This one is in front of the Texas Tech seal. I will later post a few pictures during the game, once I upload these off of Robert's cellphone. It was an amazing game. Our ears were ringing at the end of the game.... it was like we had just come from a rock concert... the fans were so loud! We stood the entire game and I had almost lost my voice... it took a week to get my voice fully back... just in time to lose it again at the Tech vs OSU game. Hope you enjoyed the pictures! It was a BLAST!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-91588890593095585402008-11-16T17:57:00.013-06:002008-11-17T00:00:48.078-06:00Home Improvement of the Upstairs BathroomWhen we moved into this house.... I knew of a few changes I wanted to immediately make. I knew I wanted to change the kitchen hardware and outlet/light covers from brass to brushed nickle (which I've done.) AND..... I wanted to totally change the upstairs bathroom. It was bleeding the 80s! So... this fall I went out and looked for a shower curtain and used that to base all my colors from. I knew this would eventually become a kids bathroom, so I wanted it to be bright and cheerful. Right now, it is the only bathroom upstairs.... we eventually plan to add another bathroom upstairs. <br /><br />Here is what the bathroom looked like before:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikk9YnZoMGhqXof8LkKHd5B5m8yaMBpF76TgLcsol4TrjGB2nvx7pCjke9DiAb-6WJ3p2a40jJ4MtEi1itWmj3ZVWATkcaFMkJ_myddqjlbKkpzskE-qQ9dKtfsNU5z39BLF2AHIucV2Q/s1600-h/DSC_0203.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikk9YnZoMGhqXof8LkKHd5B5m8yaMBpF76TgLcsol4TrjGB2nvx7pCjke9DiAb-6WJ3p2a40jJ4MtEi1itWmj3ZVWATkcaFMkJ_myddqjlbKkpzskE-qQ9dKtfsNU5z39BLF2AHIucV2Q/s400/DSC_0203.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269412010222315330" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThK62QZXHgyRsWkhF2M3W2jG3RAkZ0Jmy7I87TxDcTIgR_4PpQ42xQkT5Cw7zHdKfeQQF0EsPDn143xCcmQ_chsgRCXJ7TQCy2vWn-3NLSqfwvTCVUMhyphenhyphenXwQB2BVAyfTlAFwbuOep4DQ/s1600-h/DSC_0204.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThK62QZXHgyRsWkhF2M3W2jG3RAkZ0Jmy7I87TxDcTIgR_4PpQ42xQkT5Cw7zHdKfeQQF0EsPDn143xCcmQ_chsgRCXJ7TQCy2vWn-3NLSqfwvTCVUMhyphenhyphenXwQB2BVAyfTlAFwbuOep4DQ/s400/DSC_0204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269489773545206466" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8aFD6AtBNkj-2rW8ZCZj4AvN2KnZJ6LU_kjlYiHsRWZZ6Kjm9Dz7Qnlv4iGH0sCPETrCMKnjKVtGCpLXAoiC5tPKzwYUtnmQio-cMG0h_wdTa-Imj0af2SWqydddS-MI9_sAbKtd-jM/s1600-h/DSC_0205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8aFD6AtBNkj-2rW8ZCZj4AvN2KnZJ6LU_kjlYiHsRWZZ6Kjm9Dz7Qnlv4iGH0sCPETrCMKnjKVtGCpLXAoiC5tPKzwYUtnmQio-cMG0h_wdTa-Imj0af2SWqydddS-MI9_sAbKtd-jM/s400/DSC_0205.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269490367627355170" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3GOcQL6UBnuEuUD_o-aoTQdkGOZtThQmZtObVdLb-n7n9p59vqQ4i0K5hfak3blxhOJI_h9GyTIPYykx7yWuDB-rMzpUH-VSI1Xrx3vAm7r6zsZWgoE2iVguhUhc7QsRdd-YCd6i0tk/s1600-h/DSC_0206.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3GOcQL6UBnuEuUD_o-aoTQdkGOZtThQmZtObVdLb-n7n9p59vqQ4i0K5hfak3blxhOJI_h9GyTIPYykx7yWuDB-rMzpUH-VSI1Xrx3vAm7r6zsZWgoE2iVguhUhc7QsRdd-YCd6i0tk/s320/DSC_0206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269491486981498578" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3G66WvA4tmUU2aXzKyyzlggoYJN5YFFhQkHw5ijdR7yjzgEFIZNRWkClw3MxPFs9ue8anMyvc0tvDuQ14iAeoGVuVl0ADtRvUxwXfhlbpO6-otV1J_yqb7wyQ8t0tjCjHNSg-RSd3dk/s1600-h/DSC_0207.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3G66WvA4tmUU2aXzKyyzlggoYJN5YFFhQkHw5ijdR7yjzgEFIZNRWkClw3MxPFs9ue8anMyvc0tvDuQ14iAeoGVuVl0ADtRvUxwXfhlbpO6-otV1J_yqb7wyQ8t0tjCjHNSg-RSd3dk/s320/DSC_0207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269491981806631842" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I couldn't imagine picking out this wallpaper..... even when it was in it's prime. I couldn't wait to tear it down, so I squirted water mixed with downey and started peeling away the layers. When I got it off, I discovered there was another layer of wallpaper up there, so I tried peeling it off too.... but soon realized that I was damaging the dry wall. I went and got primar to seal it. Then decided I wanted textured walls. SO.... I decided to buy the already mixed up stuff that you just had to spread on the walls. I had never textured walls before... and it wasn't too hard. So after that dried, I painted it with primar again. Yuck.... I hated that stuff and the way it smells and would give me a high/headache. Then.... I decided to paint it this really BRIGHT green.... almost neon green. I felt it was time to have fun and just go crazy with color.<br /><br />Here is the result:<br /><br /><br />Oh... first, here is the wall before I added the BRIGHT green.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKtqwF3sslas88bJdaYCMZ9iZQqlTHT42XMLHUQHHiiUG02KlGtDGrLqS17LgOGBcMIQtDchzaYw0ecc1KTgYPD7pB5FcgPZsjQxqHe449EURdbqlSSfCEWe7twBjiUDm0rqxYzde5oc/s1600-h/DSC_0262.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKtqwF3sslas88bJdaYCMZ9iZQqlTHT42XMLHUQHHiiUG02KlGtDGrLqS17LgOGBcMIQtDchzaYw0ecc1KTgYPD7pB5FcgPZsjQxqHe449EURdbqlSSfCEWe7twBjiUDm0rqxYzde5oc/s320/DSC_0262.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269495440436760242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjN7bCvXcXkrWyWbvKcFsQyC3P9yorKf2HjzL7p_NDFiOXHufTIzru9NTLshro7f_puvg0ob-aOadGiKnFcIDAjdQo7xkTqNt1W-iKxZcsRMT5YpJ5Hs2PLkJyI0GqrZVhZKE2Qxi7zbM/s1600-h/DSC_0266.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjN7bCvXcXkrWyWbvKcFsQyC3P9yorKf2HjzL7p_NDFiOXHufTIzru9NTLshro7f_puvg0ob-aOadGiKnFcIDAjdQo7xkTqNt1W-iKxZcsRMT5YpJ5Hs2PLkJyI0GqrZVhZKE2Qxi7zbM/s320/DSC_0266.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269496170037943106" /></a><br />And here's the crazy green.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I kept it there for a few days to see if the color would grow on me. (It didn't.) I went back to get a different color of green and had Robert come with me this time. I had lost all confidence in my ability to pick out good colors. (Which I now have gotten over.) I went with a bright lighter shade of green.... still bright, but a more muted bright. I loved the way this looked. <br /><br />Here is the finished product:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ztDQZeHrrvx2ptziUvxO9Zqy5G6NSknykYiLuXr65xEvcS8q4MR9QxUzoZu7rNbtHQHTuxMFz8gGlCOsa-jSkl8QVSJT56WnNYmdI-oKCNTnhNsh_LNUCGIzJpDFfUm12lx3JeQT9Xs/s1600-h/DSC_0278.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ztDQZeHrrvx2ptziUvxO9Zqy5G6NSknykYiLuXr65xEvcS8q4MR9QxUzoZu7rNbtHQHTuxMFz8gGlCOsa-jSkl8QVSJT56WnNYmdI-oKCNTnhNsh_LNUCGIzJpDFfUm12lx3JeQT9Xs/s400/DSC_0278.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269498826719533954" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaX9-aO2RfEkS3aSlsCmBZ71VFnxt6DmbsRtMg0HnnhYX2FVRHTC3IDkNZKRDOOTywFBlT-vhymnu7V8bSgWc3lntrEMVvSeHH8ArTkPi0fRZOAYQOpbCNBWq-0qM1JTjy56mGQGcchO4/s1600-h/DSC_0271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaX9-aO2RfEkS3aSlsCmBZ71VFnxt6DmbsRtMg0HnnhYX2FVRHTC3IDkNZKRDOOTywFBlT-vhymnu7V8bSgWc3lntrEMVvSeHH8ArTkPi0fRZOAYQOpbCNBWq-0qM1JTjy56mGQGcchO4/s400/DSC_0271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269499359291834834" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtQHYGj-BXLlIveswhnQ5jJozoXmRf7j2_j38sIfiyeoB9kzbS_CH4ZJabk80NlQ4r3NnrqmgLBVkcv4Aou47-XPR5lsLrgqzoWHs564GN7WfFXvyQchitmZwY2yf1n8E4vrBoRPSufI/s1600-h/DSC_0273.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtQHYGj-BXLlIveswhnQ5jJozoXmRf7j2_j38sIfiyeoB9kzbS_CH4ZJabk80NlQ4r3NnrqmgLBVkcv4Aou47-XPR5lsLrgqzoWHs564GN7WfFXvyQchitmZwY2yf1n8E4vrBoRPSufI/s400/DSC_0273.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269499901433716642" /></a><br /><br /><br />I don't know if you could tell, but I changed the hardware on the cabinets to brushed nickle, as well as the towel bars and light switch/outlet covers. I also used a brushed nickle shower curtain rod. I decided to have some fun whimsical fish theme accents, such as a trash can and kleenex box cover. I tried to make this a kid's bathroom that could easily be converted into an older kid's bathroom once they get older. I hope you like the finished product..... we do. :) We plan to take out the shower/tub unit and have the wall tiled and a porcelain tub put in. We also want to change out the countertop to maybe a granite. But that will probably be in a year. I'll post that on here when that eventually happens.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-35774853620701660632008-10-29T16:35:00.009-05:002008-10-29T18:07:33.206-05:00Jacob's LadderI hate to admit that my blogging has gotten very lazy or put on the back burner. I've had quite a few projects I've been working on in my house.... so, sorry I haven't been keeping up with this. I plan to get back to business on here. <br /><br />That being said.... back in August while driving to Lubbock, I decided to make a pit-stop in Abilene. I had heard and read about a beautiful sculpture, titled "Jacob's Ladder," on the Abilene Christian University campus (my alma mater.) One thing that makes this extra special for me, is that this sculpture was made by one of my favorite professors at ACU. I LOVED my sculpture class and loved how fun and care free Jack Maxwell was. If you're ever in Abilene... you should check out this sculpture in person, it is way more amazing and beautiful in person! It's on Judge Ely near the ACU Bible building, right off Interstate 20. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgM63hJvvJ39l5QnNgi-yj-DrdPk9dplLNbfoCpeV_lVPj9Uat8RRDN7f9phwtpak6PAUKXUDu2ciT_089itL5pqPRdhxXtBQ-TXK6qs9giz5tssQcgPjPQwRZ7PQ_Irei6vIEBvrThQ/s1600-h/DSC_0143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgM63hJvvJ39l5QnNgi-yj-DrdPk9dplLNbfoCpeV_lVPj9Uat8RRDN7f9phwtpak6PAUKXUDu2ciT_089itL5pqPRdhxXtBQ-TXK6qs9giz5tssQcgPjPQwRZ7PQ_Irei6vIEBvrThQ/s400/DSC_0143.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262707794475319714" /></a><br /><br /><br />You can see the arches of the Bible building in the background, as well as the tower. I don't know if you can see this in the pictures... but there are words etched in the stones describing God.... pieces of verses from the Bible. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXyXFWty_nntwD1aFuRzlAYDI3wxsl24COP-cRrxy22BEkPH3Wkr44nuIqjDD5DW5gGJYEX_BDDGt9hclrtGmO5B7AAQAL8XDEj2BZ8E3LHt3nEgAfcrnYkIBI1I62C2f8FmfsL8bgXg/s1600-h/DSC_0144.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXyXFWty_nntwD1aFuRzlAYDI3wxsl24COP-cRrxy22BEkPH3Wkr44nuIqjDD5DW5gGJYEX_BDDGt9hclrtGmO5B7AAQAL8XDEj2BZ8E3LHt3nEgAfcrnYkIBI1I62C2f8FmfsL8bgXg/s320/DSC_0144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262709755732935170" /></a><br /><br /><br />Behind the block in the foreground, stating "Everlasting," there is a small waterfall. It was so peaceful there... listening to the water and reflecting on how awesome God is!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C5yK_C48hODIXWUXZWCfTB4__-oh_Nu1dN8GK0Ulqsh6bA2nl_An2xvsXUQ_ga05aE3Ca6bgT0Kz7BLDu25cIiBIr0F902H7RvvabBe93-h9-ENJyCrivDClbZkg7JCXH33WvTS2xdQ/s1600-h/DSC_0145.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C5yK_C48hODIXWUXZWCfTB4__-oh_Nu1dN8GK0Ulqsh6bA2nl_An2xvsXUQ_ga05aE3Ca6bgT0Kz7BLDu25cIiBIr0F902H7RvvabBe93-h9-ENJyCrivDClbZkg7JCXH33WvTS2xdQ/s320/DSC_0145.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262711242735238562" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DDdEWo1v-nriaCHpe2rXtSjjsbzt0YQ6MENFcZPrMw1ZdmtWw7EyckS2NKnZHCTuzdr3FL_mPnHyy0lnoJ3X4vStj-rXDlGrQ9m7iHoZxkDY2hZ-ULhdcstFPVgxsRe9Df6JOTz7EpY/s1600-h/DSC_0148.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DDdEWo1v-nriaCHpe2rXtSjjsbzt0YQ6MENFcZPrMw1ZdmtWw7EyckS2NKnZHCTuzdr3FL_mPnHyy0lnoJ3X4vStj-rXDlGrQ9m7iHoZxkDY2hZ-ULhdcstFPVgxsRe9Df6JOTz7EpY/s320/DSC_0148.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262712571812277026" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZg-zXhmRz14NN1Zfukg8yOKHeP_Vt-WX0BbvQuKDmgKch9SksJQqTx_6dvPGuw5UelhMLCRuetGPIKceb-SCsYETrJMDjB6wteUxCNR6B8Xn0b9c9PZ8YR0T1ZfrEnDSltHNZxMCxi4/s1600-h/DSC_0146.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZg-zXhmRz14NN1Zfukg8yOKHeP_Vt-WX0BbvQuKDmgKch9SksJQqTx_6dvPGuw5UelhMLCRuetGPIKceb-SCsYETrJMDjB6wteUxCNR6B8Xn0b9c9PZ8YR0T1ZfrEnDSltHNZxMCxi4/s400/DSC_0146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262713400810820674" /></a><br /><br />(Below)<br />If you look carefully at the negative space (the space between the stones), you can see the shape of a cross. Jack is a spectacular artist.... being able to show art even in the form of space. How wonderful to use a talent God gave you to glorify Him!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-35450873130033373342008-10-17T10:27:00.002-05:002008-10-17T11:12:52.992-05:00TaggedLisa tagged me to write 7 random things about me. Here they are:<br /><br />1.) I absolutely detest watermelon. I gag when I see people eating it. I can hardly stand to be in the same room, I hate the smell so bad. I also hate cantaloupe and honeydew.<br /><br />2.) I have become almost obsessed with having clean hands. I guess it comes from being around 1st graders for 12 yrs. I have been known to have cracking dry hands because I've cleaned them so much.<br /><br />3.) I am a neat freak when it comes to most drawers and folding laundry. When I fold socks or underwear, if it isn't matched up just right.... I'll start over and fold it again. I also restack the silverware in the drawer if I've found it to have fallen over. I have other drawers that I don't care about keeping organized.<br /><br />4.) I love nature. I love being out in the middle of nowhere, far away from people and just listening, breathing, smelling, seeing all that is around me. I feel rejuvenated when I escape from my everyday life. I also love watching the birds in my yard. I'll sit at the window with my 2 dogs and watch birds.<br /><br />5.) I am NOT a morning person. You will never find me in bed before midnight.... unless I am sick. I wish I was a morning person... then I'd be out watching all the early birds out in my yard.<br /><br />6.) I love candles but don't like to light them. I have a very hard time lighting a candle that has never been lit before, I don't like the way they look once they've been burned. <br /><br />7.) I lose all control over my emotions during really sad times. I have been known to be crying really hard and then just out of the blue.... start laughing hysterically. I've done this at church, at funerals, and during very sad moments in movies. I know this sounds horrible... but I really can't help it. (Just ask my dad about watching the movie "A Dog Called Skip," I just about embarrassed him to death during that movie.)<br /><br />Well I hope you aren't too freaked out about my weirdness. Anyway... I tag Michelle and Holly.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-45708263752014887912008-08-26T21:22:00.031-05:002008-08-27T18:12:20.157-05:00Day 11: Dubrovnik, Croatia<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">When we arrived in Dubrovnik we were surprised to see 7 other cruise ships. This made getting around challenging. Dubrovnik was breathtakingly beautiful!!! I would LOVE to visit here again. The sea and trees were so pretty! The old Dubrovnik was full of neat shops and very friendly people. This was one of my favorite stops for sure! Old Dubrovnik is surrounded by a huge brick wall and is located on the Dalmation coast of the Adriatic Sea.<br /><br /></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzzbQvvCtzX3nxGhQJAc-ZPLJ7ris0OK4n7iw6uZg5X3Lft9Zm4SJN-opgnJpvh2OF-PAEW6I1vy4jtNLhB3SyNOwZoip90ixjP_UOLEUasvPvXjfG86DJRRTeghl_tQoB-2vDx5Yc54/s1600-h/DSC_0321.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239022711505750514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzzbQvvCtzX3nxGhQJAc-ZPLJ7ris0OK4n7iw6uZg5X3Lft9Zm4SJN-opgnJpvh2OF-PAEW6I1vy4jtNLhB3SyNOwZoip90ixjP_UOLEUasvPvXjfG86DJRRTeghl_tQoB-2vDx5Yc54/s320/DSC_0321.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekarv71G2NnFuSlh6ynSI2jRKbJttgJEyPFXl1N-jk_ZB0Yd4BCaMrg_wn_mwfa98_lZBaOAB1fyIrKW6KdOys1gBoroREznRYa5AQJgBfl7SUq8PDBtUOu-OAZ1O_uMyka3072uHpC0/s1600-h/DSC_0315.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239030632890509330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekarv71G2NnFuSlh6ynSI2jRKbJttgJEyPFXl1N-jk_ZB0Yd4BCaMrg_wn_mwfa98_lZBaOAB1fyIrKW6KdOys1gBoroREznRYa5AQJgBfl7SUq8PDBtUOu-OAZ1O_uMyka3072uHpC0/s320/DSC_0315.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">A close up of the wall surrounding historic Dubrovnik<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoxyRLlW-biuxyiWTds1LSRfmTjdPcO-yl-t2RT7LPydfiIZLqHE-XL-mkhD8ugeuL4Z3pWseq2k-iA-FDcYkKarrE7o1mc8oWbxHgk6FjSt1-nEMERDAx3JrbH0tmAeMgoahgbAVcDw/s1600-h/DSC_0340.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239227921574746162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoxyRLlW-biuxyiWTds1LSRfmTjdPcO-yl-t2RT7LPydfiIZLqHE-XL-mkhD8ugeuL4Z3pWseq2k-iA-FDcYkKarrE7o1mc8oWbxHgk6FjSt1-nEMERDAx3JrbH0tmAeMgoahgbAVcDw/s320/DSC_0340.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">When we walked up to the entrance to the wall, I felt like we were about to enter a castle.<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDaEIVmQcq4ZsASc8XQGelu9VJlcUQIt54aWeLbjeQKGpFi-xpFcf0cE5xXktHKgSvJxXGPqYrrvCco-guxhFZ31_s2ZYRKXHYSaXKXusDaB8r7vEL_i2XUC7h6vbR7lTdtTBWooxNxE/s1600-h/IMG_107_0309_309.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239235291932253474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDaEIVmQcq4ZsASc8XQGelu9VJlcUQIt54aWeLbjeQKGpFi-xpFcf0cE5xXktHKgSvJxXGPqYrrvCco-guxhFZ31_s2ZYRKXHYSaXKXusDaB8r7vEL_i2XUC7h6vbR7lTdtTBWooxNxE/s320/IMG_107_0309_309.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Onofrio's Fountain, a free public drinking fountain<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8n9GnyBqYmQ8ayY-6mglS2-DsuRV8JSNuTpRK5lA4-bnFh5FjcENSVk99D9VAPWf8vHqs68BTlPompAGc2GHZ7hdaHJzJ7rRHW7TdBousCSfmUXrfOy9ich_7h4fnXlKyKHQuqmGqS8/s1600-h/DSC_0352.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239242404837377650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8n9GnyBqYmQ8ayY-6mglS2-DsuRV8JSNuTpRK5lA4-bnFh5FjcENSVk99D9VAPWf8vHqs68BTlPompAGc2GHZ7hdaHJzJ7rRHW7TdBousCSfmUXrfOy9ich_7h4fnXlKyKHQuqmGqS8/s200/DSC_0352.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />A close-up to the fountain and a musician playing in front of the fountain<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbsllytlGZMviV_BctOzcT9mMhEqcDg7SBaWMFsibwOymvFVmkOD7MeFPQB25nm9_RMpwaxN9mBTsiMDO9pxJeNnn8H3qURFLjH8yi2sBpDWkh2NAqQiphzC96RiLOeV79k7s0Raj8rU/s1600-h/DSC_0348.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239243753833355282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbsllytlGZMviV_BctOzcT9mMhEqcDg7SBaWMFsibwOymvFVmkOD7MeFPQB25nm9_RMpwaxN9mBTsiMDO9pxJeNnn8H3qURFLjH8yi2sBpDWkh2NAqQiphzC96RiLOeV79k7s0Raj8rU/s200/DSC_0348.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><br />Some of the people of Dubrovnik<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239247927259283394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhBgbjb7MvmY6cJQsYdvRkCPOrdb7M_LsKIssAgF6ZNhaHlWKlshFBlrA0_bhgmnPIILmCuMwDlLdXZc_dxZJDRxROErwOz2xCe0hmtpB3fyV4bSnE0ZRM9idNJjxbZl2vaiHDVaYZR4/s200/IMG_8116_0051_051.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwILyHsUaQ9FiHVyeqbAFe1dRA0GHMHAPixycTaqWq3t_HYv1iVfwBrYG7AKA6AgcswuesTV8fLU2USjeFh48OrAHQMvyBKUjRXdb_kJlq91-o1H5g9pOTNQRNpEz2SyC04HdkJzz8cVU/s1600-h/IMG_8110_0057_057.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239266529439658162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwILyHsUaQ9FiHVyeqbAFe1dRA0GHMHAPixycTaqWq3t_HYv1iVfwBrYG7AKA6AgcswuesTV8fLU2USjeFh48OrAHQMvyBKUjRXdb_kJlq91-o1H5g9pOTNQRNpEz2SyC04HdkJzz8cVU/s200/IMG_8110_0057_057.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhBgbjb7MvmY6cJQsYdvRkCPOrdb7M_LsKIssAgF6ZNhaHlWKlshFBlrA0_bhgmnPIILmCuMwDlLdXZc_dxZJDRxROErwOz2xCe0hmtpB3fyV4bSnE0ZRM9idNJjxbZl2vaiHDVaYZR4/s1600-h/IMG_8116_0051_051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239269038994961410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2gPVT13kyDyk29jlyqB-11mSp0ZD6Vaiz9OYkkcvKeZ2v9yFcBrVHyEGxbWxtPiUEspXaEaB1Q2gVTPiTkAs0_4RXatgmJKVAkltDuoyBM__8yo4RNM2SaKkeL6871NRL5fS7ogaFIE/s200/DSC_0363.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62aQ6w7wP-0eKU45cf3jQnP0QCwmvrJf0LnBJ-1nbYqbQVA29WBQdYq243V4Ke4hONa21629p95Qxi7yOXN6lGgAyRpV6taEOYQBNPClo7MEFcgFiC01XoVvl2Ot9atA0v5OvknTPDsU/s1600-h/DSC_0359.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239293088365109858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62aQ6w7wP-0eKU45cf3jQnP0QCwmvrJf0LnBJ-1nbYqbQVA29WBQdYq243V4Ke4hONa21629p95Qxi7yOXN6lGgAyRpV6taEOYQBNPClo7MEFcgFiC01XoVvl2Ot9atA0v5OvknTPDsU/s320/DSC_0359.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Stradun, Dubrovnik's main street<br /><br />Some of the beautiful architecture:<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XNruRanbomq_03Uz64qJvAk4bgWgBgcXXFtPuECGhKJhfgTAXvqBG8nMurfeZGGsqEMYNqsBrLYKmS5qMWVh8kvjBbCmrCo9EUmwr6xGqgU1XYCq8hSTX82XeMbfnBjKUdXCrRmfN-o/s1600-h/DSC_0365.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239304499951472450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XNruRanbomq_03Uz64qJvAk4bgWgBgcXXFtPuECGhKJhfgTAXvqBG8nMurfeZGGsqEMYNqsBrLYKmS5qMWVh8kvjBbCmrCo9EUmwr6xGqgU1XYCq8hSTX82XeMbfnBjKUdXCrRmfN-o/s200/DSC_0365.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HhM9-F77iRsPl4BnvUfcIHqsCTJydZH1FmpcoP6PDoTppbY-yInIkVNwIjNuO2EIKXnGSOiiNP5QxCZXXz0Ve325bf3pKIP-ygPZK4OpeB5jEylQRHQKBe88n2xQtsL_2iwILoeFtv0/s1600-h/DSC_0366.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239305594589608146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HhM9-F77iRsPl4BnvUfcIHqsCTJydZH1FmpcoP6PDoTppbY-yInIkVNwIjNuO2EIKXnGSOiiNP5QxCZXXz0Ve325bf3pKIP-ygPZK4OpeB5jEylQRHQKBe88n2xQtsL_2iwILoeFtv0/s200/DSC_0366.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjudQo47z0oYisvF1OwtPsrUF6WdlzIOQjr3KcbYislxqpWscgoje-httkOrYM4clKUSvcsUF7nD7mKMA535YfHWDQWVRzjaw8QEPsNV0_JvdW5b-OZd6QSg8OguzQ6vsO5gWwIWqN4s/s1600-h/DSC_0367.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239308978544561266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjudQo47z0oYisvF1OwtPsrUF6WdlzIOQjr3KcbYislxqpWscgoje-httkOrYM4clKUSvcsUF7nD7mKMA535YfHWDQWVRzjaw8QEPsNV0_JvdW5b-OZd6QSg8OguzQ6vsO5gWwIWqN4s/s200/DSC_0367.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Church of St. Blasius<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_Ck6xoQiqSjUs-KzVGpt9d75P88yPfxFERi5d0sWYOY-qNNlX0hvxunnQDZmH5yK0VwK0hOXtsIUDvLAbcad1UWt-dRHKjhBKjDffc30S7aWdSN0GQiTDZvOHqr5GOt95oJDegH3zTk/s1600-h/DSC_0370.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239311521614516050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_Ck6xoQiqSjUs-KzVGpt9d75P88yPfxFERi5d0sWYOY-qNNlX0hvxunnQDZmH5yK0VwK0hOXtsIUDvLAbcad1UWt-dRHKjhBKjDffc30S7aWdSN0GQiTDZvOHqr5GOt95oJDegH3zTk/s200/DSC_0370.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">The Orlando statue the symbol of a free city </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> </p><p><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJF1ZgUdDVHeMo-zWfKDgMof1PEYYFOu3TMqwKGFcl1WVfhZvPKpjrnv6RR4hdbtxpsunS7bSaZbz0cSL9UBEdaRxyDEbeTNXx4PtwT8lstKWA318_Aa7w1f0sk6AxmXfZgf2oo2kqlA/s1600-h/DSC_0381.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239316930037829922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJF1ZgUdDVHeMo-zWfKDgMof1PEYYFOu3TMqwKGFcl1WVfhZvPKpjrnv6RR4hdbtxpsunS7bSaZbz0cSL9UBEdaRxyDEbeTNXx4PtwT8lstKWA318_Aa7w1f0sk6AxmXfZgf2oo2kqlA/s200/DSC_0381.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is in the background and Rector's Palace is to the left in that same picture<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9D8W0wirXLVw3ie6EO5FD1gvUBDZepPSXFZ6sxuB-Rg0jPkyKLvTSWdhxxdScXvZ6YguRfn10I8jQ40Foiy2PjS9VUxq98AJU6dNGVJpF4zW5pJ5yuSsyKYk69a65ivvbV_ej2AbjJI/s1600-h/IMG_8112_0055_055.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239318969886261874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9D8W0wirXLVw3ie6EO5FD1gvUBDZepPSXFZ6sxuB-Rg0jPkyKLvTSWdhxxdScXvZ6YguRfn10I8jQ40Foiy2PjS9VUxq98AJU6dNGVJpF4zW5pJ5yuSsyKYk69a65ivvbV_ej2AbjJI/s200/IMG_8112_0055_055.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> Another view of Rector's Palace<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnfvXK_mHpDpZXyz_Wx6_ZgUGOe9Z_d5QyzLYEN4xkaPIK1ea2PLPA1dhee0p7l7u2t4yHWLhcubEdSrsxzMafmJs0O63wAHTOsSmiSthNHZzVsnHIzerSuuGnxwSo7jrQK7g3ss_eLQ/s1600-h/DSC_0393.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239327094828038706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnfvXK_mHpDpZXyz_Wx6_ZgUGOe9Z_d5QyzLYEN4xkaPIK1ea2PLPA1dhee0p7l7u2t4yHWLhcubEdSrsxzMafmJs0O63wAHTOsSmiSthNHZzVsnHIzerSuuGnxwSo7jrQK7g3ss_eLQ/s200/DSC_0393.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEzOKbWgygqctNXlxf9_oVvbe_ZItqquEwjSySfd5fxWw9W19DDyllm_BCXyY0uDuOKMteSEz1sqUq7FNeEgvcEcUbkTzft0-3nTBVgI9qQKvZcdx0ilSMcmVbx0ATUpOx_GzbIc4pfA/s1600-h/DSC_0399.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239328470321734434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEzOKbWgygqctNXlxf9_oVvbe_ZItqquEwjSySfd5fxWw9W19DDyllm_BCXyY0uDuOKMteSEz1sqUq7FNeEgvcEcUbkTzft0-3nTBVgI9qQKvZcdx0ilSMcmVbx0ATUpOx_GzbIc4pfA/s320/DSC_0399.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Dubrovnik bridge of Franjo Tuđman<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOCiGtl9roshfG9GjTTRcDmHUGZVxB4MZ1IqHv4FQnEIU5NUA2LqTlHR3dkLUSZXtGeQAgAsmDiHvE5N-bFiwewjeRjhriukp6zTcXVcDT3Fov0RDIskD7HXGq1UsHMjlKXIpuUqnN2w/s1600-h/IMG_18_0125_125.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239330845256647266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOCiGtl9roshfG9GjTTRcDmHUGZVxB4MZ1IqHv4FQnEIU5NUA2LqTlHR3dkLUSZXtGeQAgAsmDiHvE5N-bFiwewjeRjhriukp6zTcXVcDT3Fov0RDIskD7HXGq1UsHMjlKXIpuUqnN2w/s320/IMG_18_0125_125.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Some of the lifeboats we tendered in on<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-OfoUw7e966JeGe_hl8CU1YtW-HDufKuDRGDg5-ugUaDoHAkM7BPNRtlyuepWt9EB80AlOsC1UAKTMw5rUiNC5G1UrqoH0TBwygEtbfPV48VzWbd2RiRIrHYqA-woEo5JH4UkwFyLe0/s1600-h/DSC_0322.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239332497250080930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-OfoUw7e966JeGe_hl8CU1YtW-HDufKuDRGDg5-ugUaDoHAkM7BPNRtlyuepWt9EB80AlOsC1UAKTMw5rUiNC5G1UrqoH0TBwygEtbfPV48VzWbd2RiRIrHYqA-woEo5JH4UkwFyLe0/s400/DSC_0322.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">A view of the Adriatic Sea.... isn't the water beautiful?<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3wFBo21QeMNTBQtFGx3JIPSj6E25vn6W1ezhpLLawwTsjONo0KRpzczRUvGarihiC_g4WiCj9ot3y-cC-nGDTWoM7oUbmkLQb_jq8TQcfBAsOBOlKFn35gFZT_R91Vh-o3fpghoRulo/s1600-h/DSC_0395.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239333949169704850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3wFBo21QeMNTBQtFGx3JIPSj6E25vn6W1ezhpLLawwTsjONo0KRpzczRUvGarihiC_g4WiCj9ot3y-cC-nGDTWoM7oUbmkLQb_jq8TQcfBAsOBOlKFn35gFZT_R91Vh-o3fpghoRulo/s320/DSC_0395.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Robert, me, mom, and dad as we are waiting to ride the tender back to the ship.</span></p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-63459567589303787432008-08-26T13:23:00.022-05:002008-08-26T17:51:56.423-05:00Day 10: Corfu, Greece & Albania<div align="left"><span style="color:#9999ff;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">When we booked an excursion for July 4th, we booked online. Robert started with my parents first and then did ours... which meant on this day, my parents were able to get the tour for Corfu and we weren't. It was sold out. So.... my parents toured Corfu and we went to Albania. We rode a hydrofoil from Corfu to the Port of Saranda, about a 30 minute ride. Then we boarded a tour bus and headed to the ancient town of Butrint. The drive there was interesting... we drove down old military roads that were very narrow. We stoped near a monument and checked out all the bomb shelters. They were hard to spot from the road, but once we got out and walked up the hill, we could spot them. Our tour guide referred to us Americans as ex-enemies. He meant it as a joke and told us about how when he was in school they would talk about how much they hated Americans. Hearing how he described his life in the past, made me really thankful to have been born and raised in America.<br /><br /></span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD5OcvsaD9nYOJXRRC2M2pO6g9wc__l3778bKHQWYEJNLDxQsB5eNWGpWmhphx-uPCsTN1wbNC6pLrzRefKB-cbzbeASoKL9oqiswOfnCZgHp9lHLluUayMnFsLLKeyx3aw-2ib6wZ0w/s1600-h/DSC_0158.JPG"><span style="color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238901376270443922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD5OcvsaD9nYOJXRRC2M2pO6g9wc__l3778bKHQWYEJNLDxQsB5eNWGpWmhphx-uPCsTN1wbNC6pLrzRefKB-cbzbeASoKL9oqiswOfnCZgHp9lHLluUayMnFsLLKeyx3aw-2ib6wZ0w/s320/DSC_0158.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#9999ff;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Robert and our tour guide sitting on a bomb shelter.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxrwYZeNDY3NKUC37-NEhpjlnbVQtRPe8Xk3navZE_CoZuTWYsRUYTOPQNjiscmYeZDkOd4380tbPYZ9Z53yqv88t8qy_2s-Mr3dqrDUDVpD4-cb8axydMaUUIItnNQnjYWJIdmeIRNc/s1600-h/DSC_0155.JPG"><span style="color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238910970873162370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxrwYZeNDY3NKUC37-NEhpjlnbVQtRPe8Xk3navZE_CoZuTWYsRUYTOPQNjiscmYeZDkOd4380tbPYZ9Z53yqv88t8qy_2s-Mr3dqrDUDVpD4-cb8axydMaUUIItnNQnjYWJIdmeIRNc/s200/DSC_0155.JPG" border="0" /> </span><p align="center"></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">The monument showing the Albanian flag.<br /><br /><br /><br />We then drove to Butrint. The ruins here were only about 20% excavated. We all sprayed mosquito spray and then headed into the gates to see the ruins. After seeing Rome, Ancient Corinth, and Ancient Olympia.... this wasn't all that impressive.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxKHOa-MBDhhgoVsuFaGZOMHTgkJQxgOT7Uypsi3jQqHl0aTJ1AxNHFuUCjOCh7Fvfol0eTv-F6K11hhyRzBrdrUqjR-UDfy85n98Ia1qSb9dRGFgjP0Ed6Zu6qVwawKIPPvrMxZeB5I/s1600-h/DSC_0206.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238919258216140914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxKHOa-MBDhhgoVsuFaGZOMHTgkJQxgOT7Uypsi3jQqHl0aTJ1AxNHFuUCjOCh7Fvfol0eTv-F6K11hhyRzBrdrUqjR-UDfy85n98Ia1qSb9dRGFgjP0Ed6Zu6qVwawKIPPvrMxZeB5I/s200/DSC_0206.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWdsXhpDBhZfZ7gRybFuYEvmyKjbp6rkWR4-jE-G0pkiHoKjgo8x2CXCwizUWbJKeR3Zo8RnZllXBizAgxxilK7xhYMqKBlq5uUI_1ioJG1jz4jxpc1fRfz27N2ZqRsMtqtgC40UNUhQ/s1600-h/DSC_0194.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238916951689556850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWdsXhpDBhZfZ7gRybFuYEvmyKjbp6rkWR4-jE-G0pkiHoKjgo8x2CXCwizUWbJKeR3Zo8RnZllXBizAgxxilK7xhYMqKBlq5uUI_1ioJG1jz4jxpc1fRfz27N2ZqRsMtqtgC40UNUhQ/s200/DSC_0194.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TydUYbVp9bAgrJ43zg8DDgK_1g_C23txOdtp-vwMgml0LWYL2t05tMy07MT1ji5lqV7hvTsFhSL9Mnfy-Ur06QP4tgdAd6i1XUcr5-ozwEyy0mLwlevDxrqjPTNtjpXnUlIDo22npZA/s1600-h/DSC_0216.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238920569842062866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TydUYbVp9bAgrJ43zg8DDgK_1g_C23txOdtp-vwMgml0LWYL2t05tMy07MT1ji5lqV7hvTsFhSL9Mnfy-Ur06QP4tgdAd6i1XUcr5-ozwEyy0mLwlevDxrqjPTNtjpXnUlIDo22npZA/s200/DSC_0216.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j7Ef2LQGjl3n_VV6bB8kxUmK6xoCUBVl3w_pIXu9iCzXHfAv2Me9KlkMcrRZ16a8uKS3j7a4dFl-YpV6DShEVhYKV0HlfUF-ZsQ-rbYSNf_IW39L8HZfZzicckB86g1TG085rI2AcF8/s1600-h/DSC_0240.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238922415347299570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j7Ef2LQGjl3n_VV6bB8kxUmK6xoCUBVl3w_pIXu9iCzXHfAv2Me9KlkMcrRZ16a8uKS3j7a4dFl-YpV6DShEVhYKV0HlfUF-ZsQ-rbYSNf_IW39L8HZfZzicckB86g1TG085rI2AcF8/s200/DSC_0240.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After our hike around the ruins we walked to a little bar area where I had a nice cold coke and Robert tried some Albanian beer, which he liked. Then we boarded our bus to go and see more of the Port of Saranda. We ran into a problem as we were headed back down the old military road... we came upon another tour bus and the road wasn't wide enough to pass. The other bus had to back up a mile or so to a place where it could pull over to let us pass. </span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><p align="center"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSkcSH0NAruYVkPo-PsuiEJZVWzw9UU8Nlo2YrcBjgQHokCfVbBgT6_kRiVtKZHmMrgheaErPts1itR7_xN4XxgeLttYTTtLPHIrsfm8hhIUiH2x81BRV65cg2z6SQbcKIx4GUuM4fSc/s1600-h/DSC_0277.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238928168846995138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSkcSH0NAruYVkPo-PsuiEJZVWzw9UU8Nlo2YrcBjgQHokCfVbBgT6_kRiVtKZHmMrgheaErPts1itR7_xN4XxgeLttYTTtLPHIrsfm8hhIUiH2x81BRV65cg2z6SQbcKIx4GUuM4fSc/s200/DSC_0277.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DHCWy2y_O7lUdfsP-Xao_Sil-oZw2L39NUPrinPbbWfw04nbxOzIkoAoSKqa-Z8V8Kn0QYPt0dnj_w-a7w5YsE7ka9pb1PfwcY8NFZQiY2dvmIwaCmB5mV696SYTT18JezWmhE6DVB0/s1600-h/DSC_0135.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238931562879478562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DHCWy2y_O7lUdfsP-Xao_Sil-oZw2L39NUPrinPbbWfw04nbxOzIkoAoSKqa-Z8V8Kn0QYPt0dnj_w-a7w5YsE7ka9pb1PfwcY8NFZQiY2dvmIwaCmB5mV696SYTT18JezWmhE6DVB0/s200/DSC_0135.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#9999ff;"> A view of the Port of Saranda.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is the hydrofoil we rode to and from Albania.<br /><br /><br /></p></span></span><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPnIvheWFLib5_s-K-Qwt6yY-L7HHLSAjUsDImrw7WgDj8JF-fzrI89zacpF2-YxjZC5-q7k1_ASL2UriY9eACO0ULy8UA72u0CGs4kMhuj3Qi4m2qQM76J7Nj95QfjsF_FuNIPT_09E/s1600-h/DSC_0132.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238933297037986562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPnIvheWFLib5_s-K-Qwt6yY-L7HHLSAjUsDImrw7WgDj8JF-fzrI89zacpF2-YxjZC5-q7k1_ASL2UriY9eACO0ULy8UA72u0CGs4kMhuj3Qi4m2qQM76J7Nj95QfjsF_FuNIPT_09E/s200/DSC_0132.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />While we were in Albania, my parents were seeing beautiful views like this:<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82WbT8uv6rx8yjJiUki8qYiRPDKWCSYTHG2WEvajfBt5TVoTGryiELSAPg1JNkdEa7RJGUx-AJ9P7EjdR7FY8ob5y_wJ9fga9zcwm8eeawPmdSkrrEIXl9n4p6Pu4IigPh8xfA5hjgJM/s1600-h/IMG_238_0015_351.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238935456646433250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82WbT8uv6rx8yjJiUki8qYiRPDKWCSYTHG2WEvajfBt5TVoTGryiELSAPg1JNkdEa7RJGUx-AJ9P7EjdR7FY8ob5y_wJ9fga9zcwm8eeawPmdSkrrEIXl9n4p6Pu4IigPh8xfA5hjgJM/s320/IMG_238_0015_351.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGxMPGFr-lvgzzR6rUJCINN3usFf5ksDPVb4RJvMbSIO4_iMIauOzVeUKjF4jsMBjlrr9N1ZxRHnW8H6yh8QIrWSXXqlrbC0sNC6Eqnb5WjHcBnJ1U4tX28Qq1dgX7Iiq6cOGQvcLFCw/s1600-h/IMG_242_0019_355.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238936688597763954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGxMPGFr-lvgzzR6rUJCINN3usFf5ksDPVb4RJvMbSIO4_iMIauOzVeUKjF4jsMBjlrr9N1ZxRHnW8H6yh8QIrWSXXqlrbC0sNC6Eqnb5WjHcBnJ1U4tX28Qq1dgX7Iiq6cOGQvcLFCw/s320/IMG_242_0019_355.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDyISKFPO5kN_W83uU1E_mBcSrJhFD1Q3TLVIkZ0bzhcrEvkjWUfce22uFIiSntkwet1gIMSHuTcpJn1kWsICRC1uaGznEcBHuT7PSLaepPVZE4nFtcX3199vxi1W4efFnWv3Yc_9bQw/s1600-h/IMG_244_0021_357.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238941290988023330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDyISKFPO5kN_W83uU1E_mBcSrJhFD1Q3TLVIkZ0bzhcrEvkjWUfce22uFIiSntkwet1gIMSHuTcpJn1kWsICRC1uaGznEcBHuT7PSLaepPVZE4nFtcX3199vxi1W4efFnWv3Yc_9bQw/s320/IMG_244_0021_357.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTYTWlK-q5svvdnK2F38efKkgktP5D-JhnBU-kEyo_JeBAXrU5UvTnwsv8ryK_UWThcTOuFIXoORUWsRMhB5-xUi_YVLQT5YqLYIuYj6lipMO-A0PV2JEzVjWyKC-yDnE_lv8wDek9wQ/s1600-h/IMG_250_0027_363.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238944576254715474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTYTWlK-q5svvdnK2F38efKkgktP5D-JhnBU-kEyo_JeBAXrU5UvTnwsv8ryK_UWThcTOuFIXoORUWsRMhB5-xUi_YVLQT5YqLYIuYj6lipMO-A0PV2JEzVjWyKC-yDnE_lv8wDek9wQ/s320/IMG_250_0027_363.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#9999ff;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I would love to go back and visit Greece again and spend more time at each city. It is so beautiful there! AND.... the food is so yummy!!!</span> </span></p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-38661383542703644242008-08-24T20:13:00.028-05:002008-08-26T17:00:44.956-05:00Day 9: Katakolon & Ancient Olympia, Greece<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">We docked at the port city, Katakolon in Greece on July 3rd. We had an excursion planned so we boarded the tour bus and headed to Ancient Olympia. We were looking forward to this since we knew the Summer Olympics would be next month. Here are some various pictures taken in Olympia.....<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvuZ_tOZQDv-1DRrKDGzB6q0KYI5ZityWCQ1eclWnHtafvCNheLA1KmOsCYyatelL0nkYp86lSgIhF5SLRGd0DLoFTIqtKRE1JI_8Ez1l9OG55r0Nz9cw8qX9zh3uNV_Hb7TlNxqZRjg/s1600-h/DSC_0010.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238264204854574722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvuZ_tOZQDv-1DRrKDGzB6q0KYI5ZityWCQ1eclWnHtafvCNheLA1KmOsCYyatelL0nkYp86lSgIhF5SLRGd0DLoFTIqtKRE1JI_8Ez1l9OG55r0Nz9cw8qX9zh3uNV_Hb7TlNxqZRjg/s200/DSC_0010.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIwdw3X6oKR59j1tj6aiiZS94YhfCaWVX3tu3FgwvRtODl2EBnCyArafsf-IlK1MUFSHyndgs6TKucPHzQPUsdhl4r5cb73Cojjh9iqvnUaqjTBilNC3GU0uqJpOV93yGj4Vthc5WnPI/s1600-h/DSC_0012.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238266060328303634" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIwdw3X6oKR59j1tj6aiiZS94YhfCaWVX3tu3FgwvRtODl2EBnCyArafsf-IlK1MUFSHyndgs6TKucPHzQPUsdhl4r5cb73Cojjh9iqvnUaqjTBilNC3GU0uqJpOV93yGj4Vthc5WnPI/s200/DSC_0012.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNklYBbYNowBQ1-Wudge5gTdNumLUVJuKNgwuwkjOV4k6yg87ZMQHoNSatI2Tn-75ZTRlcEM3qA99kCPfaNYe8YHsbE1Xv-QkLAM2JkWWk1cs0iElGWjbWPLmXhOLWlV-pbAc8sZOdYYc/s1600-h/DSC_0018.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238271069619330738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNklYBbYNowBQ1-Wudge5gTdNumLUVJuKNgwuwkjOV4k6yg87ZMQHoNSatI2Tn-75ZTRlcEM3qA99kCPfaNYe8YHsbE1Xv-QkLAM2JkWWk1cs0iElGWjbWPLmXhOLWlV-pbAc8sZOdYYc/s200/DSC_0018.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-q2j90p1K8S1IgmMISxjHLZ0b_k4ozgjqCUVKWNC1QWh00UlNGCO-pFmAueA0CtN-_1TTDddjgNbT2kWdKWVyhwSs75SxW6jWsMIxX5HskOqF6b5Zav-sTV3LBGcxBbrMzZ7tuZEmWQ/s1600-h/DSC_0023.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238272526602940114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-q2j90p1K8S1IgmMISxjHLZ0b_k4ozgjqCUVKWNC1QWh00UlNGCO-pFmAueA0CtN-_1TTDddjgNbT2kWdKWVyhwSs75SxW6jWsMIxX5HskOqF6b5Zav-sTV3LBGcxBbrMzZ7tuZEmWQ/s200/DSC_0023.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVqxRgmdSeWOXdHd7D4g1RKmXNfInUjamZX8CPYotCEvhEPbDLhlre0ZTEYAfLKHOe3wHIHodQ4sJeDvHo1Zexmw7AeuWfvg0MUgJrBKHpD9_f94MYpxc5F925RnQ6GzsRy312RQ4lEk/s1600-h/DSC_0041.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238275193183394098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVqxRgmdSeWOXdHd7D4g1RKmXNfInUjamZX8CPYotCEvhEPbDLhlre0ZTEYAfLKHOe3wHIHodQ4sJeDvHo1Zexmw7AeuWfvg0MUgJrBKHpD9_f94MYpxc5F925RnQ6GzsRy312RQ4lEk/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Dad and Robert<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOpghgpI-AE1z0S-1jLIhCDe2YdBInJrlN71VqQhZtHfYUddbvxBJOyXFrlLaO9I2tfHyo0VPcsQMRdURYlO_PIWQKrOChiYXYz01JEeCHuLq9YXuqeHlXdvuOzyM12gQt7idfD9RSrE/s1600-h/IMG_281_0058_321.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238276525297540882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOpghgpI-AE1z0S-1jLIhCDe2YdBInJrlN71VqQhZtHfYUddbvxBJOyXFrlLaO9I2tfHyo0VPcsQMRdURYlO_PIWQKrOChiYXYz01JEeCHuLq9YXuqeHlXdvuOzyM12gQt7idfD9RSrE/s200/IMG_281_0058_321.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKksARXqURY6_yoTiqwQdaxkHzcPbwk6krmn5gwvbCRdI8kAoTxYP9To-mWdhgp7ytcuvYfAZSidJtBAkNF1zEd6ApWJu4qRptwZWttrc1wgmsTxujXQZag9_UDc3nT6jt9bI8UMSrBE/s1600-h/IMG_274_0051_328.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238280797622754738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKksARXqURY6_yoTiqwQdaxkHzcPbwk6krmn5gwvbCRdI8kAoTxYP9To-mWdhgp7ytcuvYfAZSidJtBAkNF1zEd6ApWJu4qRptwZWttrc1wgmsTxujXQZag9_UDc3nT6jt9bI8UMSrBE/s200/IMG_274_0051_328.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />You can see, in the picture on the left, how the columns were smaller pieces of limestone stacked on top of each other to form a big, tall column. The arch you see, on the right, is the gate leading to where the first Olympic races were held. Only men were allowed to participate and watch the sports. One day a woman was discovered to be watching in the stands and from that day, all spectators and athletes were not allowed to wear clothes to the Olympics. This, of course, made sure that women never entered the gates. In the picture below on the left, you can see the length of the track. In the picture below on the right, I am standing in front of the starting block for the races.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM_slFiAOkuBUl3CDym0tEfjzNjVo5032joxT916ya-H5rnY_nQGdGl1tAxxXLgb8BdgNw-TuK1OhUqa3qT6L2iLBHObbuTbAcweGbKhyphenhyphengXiQ30Yi-1EmJPUzYql5PDgJXe2rpnXYq8o/s1600-h/IMG_272_0049_330.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238284912389500322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM_slFiAOkuBUl3CDym0tEfjzNjVo5032joxT916ya-H5rnY_nQGdGl1tAxxXLgb8BdgNw-TuK1OhUqa3qT6L2iLBHObbuTbAcweGbKhyphenhyphengXiQ30Yi-1EmJPUzYql5PDgJXe2rpnXYq8o/s200/IMG_272_0049_330.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rCBh2BT52Vq4gfmymOGGeb2odVwsz4rLHRH26yYUE-KIzJSVVkjhPyIya3AaY9ktNiMms4d6irHnT1F41O2ZCH6yJkdzHidf3MPgF7PTBCuwnQ5I4DI4BkkmiCGL4mkP0ZJClYf7vMo/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238287776284591938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rCBh2BT52Vq4gfmymOGGeb2odVwsz4rLHRH26yYUE-KIzJSVVkjhPyIya3AaY9ktNiMms4d6irHnT1F41O2ZCH6yJkdzHidf3MPgF7PTBCuwnQ5I4DI4BkkmiCGL4mkP0ZJClYf7vMo/s200/DSC_0075.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oMHPkOFXBWhMg7HP6l6xGye_gIwET1_qyAvkrDNh334f1nFloZZ6MoH7nh3BZ8tEI6rQBDKv-hyngncFmiivG2z7421DVz5-rWpYyXJ4IkEgUwlmfF6fNgRIFcSjIGVMfbi6qJJWp-A/s1600-h/DSC_0086.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238289602013326130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oMHPkOFXBWhMg7HP6l6xGye_gIwET1_qyAvkrDNh334f1nFloZZ6MoH7nh3BZ8tEI6rQBDKv-hyngncFmiivG2z7421DVz5-rWpYyXJ4IkEgUwlmfF6fNgRIFcSjIGVMfbi6qJJWp-A/s320/DSC_0086.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Mom & Dad<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PnGniLJiU4ocdRzp3LNG2W5AHRyEHJj9T89NweDazjgLr36l06pIgx-pRIm3rpaf7CRJZ9WjRHXuBl_hrnIWKxoJe1zelXx3uZ0uCiS8mnQhLWq1DImlLibSCpw7lUEsZqUv-wTJnqg/s1600-h/IMG_269_0046_333.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238293575397771618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PnGniLJiU4ocdRzp3LNG2W5AHRyEHJj9T89NweDazjgLr36l06pIgx-pRIm3rpaf7CRJZ9WjRHXuBl_hrnIWKxoJe1zelXx3uZ0uCiS8mnQhLWq1DImlLibSCpw7lUEsZqUv-wTJnqg/s320/IMG_269_0046_333.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl8TGLVDUGuCxM_clqjBSGiFShCxBYJHEciqmu1xxa5E_pQUH_FFS6bSr0NqNMpC_aQZl8oDerezNFTxmyoZWVnf0oOtTnJp1bQNLtCZHp85jhTPnih87cVxFxAjOGqhYgGrF1brw66I/s1600-h/IMG_283_0060_319.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238294405178304418" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl8TGLVDUGuCxM_clqjBSGiFShCxBYJHEciqmu1xxa5E_pQUH_FFS6bSr0NqNMpC_aQZl8oDerezNFTxmyoZWVnf0oOtTnJp1bQNLtCZHp85jhTPnih87cVxFxAjOGqhYgGrF1brw66I/s320/IMG_283_0060_319.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After visiting Ancient Olympia, we went to a hotel to watch the "Dancing Zorbas." We ate Greek food as we watched the dancers perform. I felt like I was in the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." We all tried some steamed octopus, which I didn't care for.... so I washed it down with some wine. We enjoyed the musicians playing a bouzouki, a stringed instrument, while singing along and the Zorbas dancing to the music.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeQX5ZKxUsbPA9kI9qRMLYHXhtDg1Sm2y4iU2JuzR-q23CGY7yCAX1Qrf5joGbxgCWyfvWkCbNV6-a_5viCnkNJAjwWAQlZL4GZ7PO0c3piUOfKUthEZkZXq7WBbifCktlqBUtoHaQ_Q/s1600-h/DSC_0104.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238300010882338530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeQX5ZKxUsbPA9kI9qRMLYHXhtDg1Sm2y4iU2JuzR-q23CGY7yCAX1Qrf5joGbxgCWyfvWkCbNV6-a_5viCnkNJAjwWAQlZL4GZ7PO0c3piUOfKUthEZkZXq7WBbifCktlqBUtoHaQ_Q/s200/DSC_0104.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> Notice the musicians in the background.<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWZrmYp303WmGnFvPc8cCLmmgyoIeUId8SZ9ZmTsiCyjiHg2xSNRM1DdHaU0VlY2UXp9IJMPpyO51RAa8fD2m-Cve96twpth4GqVJ0i62hBg4Ehyphenhyphen_24ozX9V60xUU7vw14LN_U0OZgyg/s1600-h/DSC_0109.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238303496854248706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWZrmYp303WmGnFvPc8cCLmmgyoIeUId8SZ9ZmTsiCyjiHg2xSNRM1DdHaU0VlY2UXp9IJMPpyO51RAa8fD2m-Cve96twpth4GqVJ0i62hBg4Ehyphenhyphen_24ozX9V60xUU7vw14LN_U0OZgyg/s200/DSC_0109.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wA3fkCBhupEzbPfENeSqRPRgzt56xfnUwHedXFk87X_YXgqyxS72deMtPfa1v9NxV2zOJ0WxCALX9TY-m_XW3wnz1PfuA3ah8q5tBe5p3aq9u4Ve1DDXuHSZkDG2HfM5rdipdD78vF8/s1600-h/DSC_0113.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238306722745599970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wA3fkCBhupEzbPfENeSqRPRgzt56xfnUwHedXFk87X_YXgqyxS72deMtPfa1v9NxV2zOJ0WxCALX9TY-m_XW3wnz1PfuA3ah8q5tBe5p3aq9u4Ve1DDXuHSZkDG2HfM5rdipdD78vF8/s200/DSC_0113.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XLv8nwS3wM1GmbkhUOmGRXWkhQp6afn_4Wt2qOVA5oYVY8jssvStrwYjPCDH06tlJgylbMq0i7jCGbENagK_AkxZfdUZCE5xWf3LkxmgCZI7fPAd4ZRB8jL95tzV35dGFjDZr_1moRo/s1600-h/DSC_0127.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238309841695699218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XLv8nwS3wM1GmbkhUOmGRXWkhQp6afn_4Wt2qOVA5oYVY8jssvStrwYjPCDH06tlJgylbMq0i7jCGbENagK_AkxZfdUZCE5xWf3LkxmgCZI7fPAd4ZRB8jL95tzV35dGFjDZr_1moRo/s320/DSC_0127.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> A view of Katakolon, Greece as we were sailing on to Corfu, Greece.</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-1232383085000988632008-08-19T20:28:00.022-05:002008-08-26T17:06:42.360-05:00Day 7: At Sea & Day 8: Navplion & Ancient Corinth (Greece)<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">We enjoyed sleeping in on our days at sea. We usually had to be at the Vista Lounge between 7-8am to catch our excursions.... so a break from that was nice. There were a variety of activities planned on the ship to fill your day at sea. One of our favorites was to watch competitions at the pool..... such as "who could make the biggest splash".... "who could fit as many plastic vegetables in their bathingsuit in a minute"..... "which team could pass an orange under their chins w/out using their hands, the fastest" .... and so on. (In case you chuckled over this... no.... I didn't enjoy it to see the guys in their swimsuits! Besides... they were too young.) Another favorite of ours was playing cards. We decided to play the game of "Golf," which is a game where it's every man for himself. In other words.... no team playing. If you know my dad.... you know how competitive he can get... so we figured it would be best to not play on teams. Mom and I (much to the dislike of our husbands) loved shopping on the ship. They had lots of beautiful jewelry to look at and other various goodies from each of the countries we visited. There was also a small movie theater with huge comfy over-sized leather chairs and popcorn to munch on. We watched only 2 movies in there on the whole trip..... "The Bucket List" & "The Spiderwick Chronicles." We also rented 2 movies to watch in our rooms. So... in case any of you were wondering.... there is plenty to do on days at sea.<br /><br />On our sailing from Messina to Navplion... we passed by Stromboli, Greece. Dad got up early while the rest of us slept in and took some nice pictures. Here are a few.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-gIt0GkqLmle4VDf4rMjc5AkMnXMdl6VbdfXnfZt7j0pH1B9hHPqDtM3TDs_xX3JIr4i-I7flcHDWMtns3WMDYMyndqcnPxBPhN1Qo4rBNic7CLTmEhaukzyZ6phMWOWM-bD6jg7Jr8/s1600-h/IMG_424_0201_178.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236413676125284466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-gIt0GkqLmle4VDf4rMjc5AkMnXMdl6VbdfXnfZt7j0pH1B9hHPqDtM3TDs_xX3JIr4i-I7flcHDWMtns3WMDYMyndqcnPxBPhN1Qo4rBNic7CLTmEhaukzyZ6phMWOWM-bD6jg7Jr8/s200/IMG_424_0201_178.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> As you can see, Stromboli has an active volcano. Not too many people live on this island.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0r3ZZOWkTERsB0aH6DJvMXrPDpfJa1xJQf3RicC4jqH6dq7pBDEpE-JF2ZV02EwTkpA9e31Vf2NtSR1-ZbKJIqfhHRR11cBlCglr161SmoJHVAOMb7rPPwdbPHBpnYWakC6bPx-6UMmo/s1600-h/IMG_428_0205_174.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236417384869217090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0r3ZZOWkTERsB0aH6DJvMXrPDpfJa1xJQf3RicC4jqH6dq7pBDEpE-JF2ZV02EwTkpA9e31Vf2NtSR1-ZbKJIqfhHRR11cBlCglr161SmoJHVAOMb7rPPwdbPHBpnYWakC6bPx-6UMmo/s200/IMG_428_0205_174.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br />Dad liked the rock that jetted out on the right... thought it looked like the head of an animal.<br /><br /><br /><br />Day 8~<br /><br />We arrived at the port city, Navplion and had to tender in to the shore. They used the lifeboats from our ship to take us to shore. Robert thought it was to make people feel better about using the lifeboats if there was ever an emergency.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCYgg6FzPvqBIacTLPFlMDMvgjJSnBRyobco7Xz-1fxdPSq7FaYdbQlOSMF04xImeU9G4RE7-GQzO2G91MHgJmhOidx73A0ICFPwBsW3Kz_gPTTwnN_hN0a50HrWeukmrh6JWFzkRzwk/s1600-h/DSC_0006.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236423893557715218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCYgg6FzPvqBIacTLPFlMDMvgjJSnBRyobco7Xz-1fxdPSq7FaYdbQlOSMF04xImeU9G4RE7-GQzO2G91MHgJmhOidx73A0ICFPwBsW3Kz_gPTTwnN_hN0a50HrWeukmrh6JWFzkRzwk/s200/DSC_0006.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7EmwBpyEpGEe5yZ0nZDjDau8BsyUfKnzUBB4k5fQVe4JUY-Z1anuryL4ZXUWRw76mE2C54AgHPlYABcKLc69mmWkghH4OFQRwdGmfe2GUHDoTQL_UwCGZAzsxiyq02QGgUVY-wD4iUw/s1600-h/DSC_0024.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236428234882492754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7EmwBpyEpGEe5yZ0nZDjDau8BsyUfKnzUBB4k5fQVe4JUY-Z1anuryL4ZXUWRw76mE2C54AgHPlYABcKLc69mmWkghH4OFQRwdGmfe2GUHDoTQL_UwCGZAzsxiyq02QGgUVY-wD4iUw/s200/DSC_0024.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#9999ff;"><br />We then boarded our tour bus to head to the canal. The Corinth Canal connects the Ionian and Aegean Seas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next, we headed to Ancient Corinth and were pretty excited! I tried to imagine Paul speaking to the Corinthians as we were walking about the ruins.<br /></span></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6cDCYkGWuShKPeD62YSZxH_3r2DVXI-xMSlqnVbFoZR4oLMxniGD0PPHcbzn9VGrZB9LIK5Sn2pZjUGXkH5RCOO_wKR2ymBSHQ88zTjUdqRbkWJhwn16gZRnLvojryiY8IokcWnrx7k/s1600-h/DSC_0034.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236433651438319794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6cDCYkGWuShKPeD62YSZxH_3r2DVXI-xMSlqnVbFoZR4oLMxniGD0PPHcbzn9VGrZB9LIK5Sn2pZjUGXkH5RCOO_wKR2ymBSHQ88zTjUdqRbkWJhwn16gZRnLvojryiY8IokcWnrx7k/s320/DSC_0034.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0f1n8liomC8DS9GJjPX_PlXwDlQxnuGGxlFtpEYeyaQIj-7L8RHmAuTLcKPD7fxyvWem6T2q3ZKZQz1bY53EI616mG-hjBD8she2SEDLP-ZFCchMp95T1A4ToTQX0q5D7ClUPFJ_XvM/s1600-h/DSC_0062.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441504036204690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0f1n8liomC8DS9GJjPX_PlXwDlQxnuGGxlFtpEYeyaQIj-7L8RHmAuTLcKPD7fxyvWem6T2q3ZKZQz1bY53EI616mG-hjBD8she2SEDLP-ZFCchMp95T1A4ToTQX0q5D7ClUPFJ_XvM/s320/DSC_0062.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> Mom and I<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KhyE-dmX5smnCByN8P-yHdoKutKg4iDTwZEqumrn38wk9ccM3qnjcW9nayVpyVlTEt6rP-VwZ1Ss0ZAn7tMDPMUehk0E3UvtZDPTrnJ-9CJr3ea1WvgQwSrAP_ossEtmquwsL2zGUso/s1600-h/IMG_302_0079_300.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236444255448411234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KhyE-dmX5smnCByN8P-yHdoKutKg4iDTwZEqumrn38wk9ccM3qnjcW9nayVpyVlTEt6rP-VwZ1Ss0ZAn7tMDPMUehk0E3UvtZDPTrnJ-9CJr3ea1WvgQwSrAP_ossEtmquwsL2zGUso/s320/IMG_302_0079_300.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />At the end of our tour in Ancient Corinth, there was a museum of items uncovered on the site. One thing I found interesting was the statues. Notice they are missing heads? Robert and I thought an enemy must've done this to the statues, but we were wrong. They are made headless on purpose, to where you can exchange heads.... so whoever became the new ruler, could place his modeled head on a statue.... or a god or senator, etc. They wouldn't let us put Robert's head on one. Oh well.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeL8vDMoTLK-YTpOHcD-FJETWXpx0OGDzHKAeYNspAPZIw1QyNhGYwcvE_31PUx5nG1BajQkT27kw1xKOPhEN_cpRrD9finvmaO2kJkEFtHTZ33TjsDjJn-HoC0TR_yXZ6H_YB2wqHP_0/s1600-h/DSC_0138.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236448467501155538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeL8vDMoTLK-YTpOHcD-FJETWXpx0OGDzHKAeYNspAPZIw1QyNhGYwcvE_31PUx5nG1BajQkT27kw1xKOPhEN_cpRrD9finvmaO2kJkEFtHTZ33TjsDjJn-HoC0TR_yXZ6H_YB2wqHP_0/s200/DSC_0138.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfjcRejXZMVwZvSaQQ5nUZnZpVQcbMWpV0fjDfqkZPkgWUvrghg7Bhvmhf4a3aKV1pAzKtlyeHXRdpEfk8uJsYvj-F1sCdCEYRnZET0swusxEiIItVvDhFjVjdOYJXf7mYwfU_NVUU30/s1600-h/DSC_0130.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236463111332892274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfjcRejXZMVwZvSaQQ5nUZnZpVQcbMWpV0fjDfqkZPkgWUvrghg7Bhvmhf4a3aKV1pAzKtlyeHXRdpEfk8uJsYvj-F1sCdCEYRnZET0swusxEiIItVvDhFjVjdOYJXf7mYwfU_NVUU30/s200/DSC_0130.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> Some of the interchangeable heads<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When we got back to Navplion we strolled down the streets for some great shopping. As we were walking a man beckoned us onto the patio of his restaurant where we ate lunch. We had the BEST Greek salad I've ever had!!! It was totally amazing... we all agreed. We've tried copying it, but just can't seem to reproduce it just yet.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuUPeRZYk7M7CWAXrXpHdGXJCM7WxXRcPUCbOpTU_KeYOxuFTUaKvRwx3LMYVNRnR9uHtQb6pgDXGYJuitNeBfwkyzHrfgUvqE3U1V12k7N6Gye6jntVpmSS2eQuRziABm3yVFkYBEPc/s1600-h/DSC_0151.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236472126439553810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuUPeRZYk7M7CWAXrXpHdGXJCM7WxXRcPUCbOpTU_KeYOxuFTUaKvRwx3LMYVNRnR9uHtQb6pgDXGYJuitNeBfwkyzHrfgUvqE3U1V12k7N6Gye6jntVpmSS2eQuRziABm3yVFkYBEPc/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d31RP__lwmT0beojE52nj1E5fd5Ah171HFveRFxYeyjS8-g5FyAz2zjMCubVy1SBd1nGK8vrQhMuoaSZblP3Pcr13oZX00d9nZbUr44_fewQh_mHxOJ6yfVaYYu_j28Aa8P8gZZKxns/s1600-h/DSC_0159.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236473780262698258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d31RP__lwmT0beojE52nj1E5fd5Ah171HFveRFxYeyjS8-g5FyAz2zjMCubVy1SBd1nGK8vrQhMuoaSZblP3Pcr13oZX00d9nZbUr44_fewQh_mHxOJ6yfVaYYu_j28Aa8P8gZZKxns/s320/DSC_0159.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A view of the sea as we tendered back to the Zuiderdam.</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-215418547900752462008-08-15T19:18:00.019-05:002008-08-26T17:10:06.647-05:00Day 6: Messina & Taormina, Italy<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">As we sailed on to Messina we were greeted by the statue of the Virgin Mary by the harbor with the inscription: "Vos et ipsam civitatem benedicimus" (We bless you and your city), a quotation from a letter which according to the legend Mary gave to the Christians of the city.<br /><br /></span></div><p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYG4l4YSyTe-sC32BRO_lRvXO4X9EMG0OSZ9IkSIZv-XAsPbMkBm4uAWI1sczSP5TLu8KmknOEkQFrn_UkRG-GVPQpA-TexnWo1MyAUyP_Mynm-8LVgD9MYiGUL_4st5ZeAh7rR9Ren0/s1600-h/DSC_0027.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234939860887865634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYG4l4YSyTe-sC32BRO_lRvXO4X9EMG0OSZ9IkSIZv-XAsPbMkBm4uAWI1sczSP5TLu8KmknOEkQFrn_UkRG-GVPQpA-TexnWo1MyAUyP_Mynm-8LVgD9MYiGUL_4st5ZeAh7rR9Ren0/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1LEAB0xuMUzCT7zHk4vmbq3qxG8erGgEYnsHCcPblBy9URQZKdmXP7w4HCPbFxoemoLcEJ_G3KGWovrXX-O0Jp-hSNa6vMDkr2Q-Y4llBGa8hIDmP8JCMRYcH24hChgTq715Uty65Mc/s1600-h/DSC_0037.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234952334484045074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1LEAB0xuMUzCT7zHk4vmbq3qxG8erGgEYnsHCcPblBy9URQZKdmXP7w4HCPbFxoemoLcEJ_G3KGWovrXX-O0Jp-hSNa6vMDkr2Q-Y4llBGa8hIDmP8JCMRYcH24hChgTq715Uty65Mc/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Here's a view out the window of our tour bus on the way to Taormina from the port city, Messina.<br /><br /><br />The gate to Taormina. Taormina is a small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy. It is perched on the slopes of Mount Tauro.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLOAFbk4_Rjc8IE4AGnGTCXr_CAvFCwLmZN8eOLKsEGaOf2I7dEaHhcCeVLGBzHXwTZD0kk3MWkYc2O8mDjabDTaxiZcVZDC4rTxto2GAAuReQuWeGiS6oDmZCQemwTDSkPD_D4sVJrw/s1600-h/DSC_0041.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234958083046591570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLOAFbk4_Rjc8IE4AGnGTCXr_CAvFCwLmZN8eOLKsEGaOf2I7dEaHhcCeVLGBzHXwTZD0kk3MWkYc2O8mDjabDTaxiZcVZDC4rTxto2GAAuReQuWeGiS6oDmZCQemwTDSkPD_D4sVJrw/s200/DSC_0041.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br />Random shots of Taormina....<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5begodZFEFf8IN_eoEZ7manwOnCvjALLuGSqOwyanFyx1jALSaScYcfoGFZTOVP5TdSO0rEyCZmdertjLERv77MG7CxzZR_GpLwLOPnLbnVaMzpvZfd2QjwSVLJk8VVi15z1Am7_iPk/s1600-h/DSC_0045.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234961985298965602" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5begodZFEFf8IN_eoEZ7manwOnCvjALLuGSqOwyanFyx1jALSaScYcfoGFZTOVP5TdSO0rEyCZmdertjLERv77MG7CxzZR_GpLwLOPnLbnVaMzpvZfd2QjwSVLJk8VVi15z1Am7_iPk/s200/DSC_0045.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhwg-f2L7YFvC0egJmjNKWDSpS2Nm3Lx8CJHzgMnSM6HZ_qYTnSbeBzkmKA3kqYfG56RWKcRm4bK6Cux9KgI_d4hz70jsj4qacsL_6nRciDyMpODp2E3QOLiYOA7y4jH-hKwy8PVa87M/s1600-h/DSC_0057.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234965603006918690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhwg-f2L7YFvC0egJmjNKWDSpS2Nm3Lx8CJHzgMnSM6HZ_qYTnSbeBzkmKA3kqYfG56RWKcRm4bK6Cux9KgI_d4hz70jsj4qacsL_6nRciDyMpODp2E3QOLiYOA7y4jH-hKwy8PVa87M/s200/DSC_0057.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw46Gtwt46oXlON1j7s7MZPH6tGrQStsgn32HipxQYSluEwGuGuijtFTxfP1b-jvhxGsT0AC2qTiE93TY4T8_ELmTMB3O0sgBp5oj_dJ_7OTT1yfg_Ds-AZ56FLkkq6wl4OUZntvSuCvs/s1600-h/DSC_0066.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234967866209299634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw46Gtwt46oXlON1j7s7MZPH6tGrQStsgn32HipxQYSluEwGuGuijtFTxfP1b-jvhxGsT0AC2qTiE93TY4T8_ELmTMB3O0sgBp5oj_dJ_7OTT1yfg_Ds-AZ56FLkkq6wl4OUZntvSuCvs/s200/DSC_0066.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtv1Bamj_U_2bP2r992J0Lo9wJuBVU5VhxAWUGVhec9MvUIKIL_fnYiioQ8y6McnjCUT54B1cGPLPdT5PZAqKNoTzObmgOUU_A5_OuCMxJqClcR1dy2CuN6cIR9DoqYHtLXgTPBafaXQ/s1600-h/IMG_371_0148_231.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234969750212215442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtv1Bamj_U_2bP2r992J0Lo9wJuBVU5VhxAWUGVhec9MvUIKIL_fnYiioQ8y6McnjCUT54B1cGPLPdT5PZAqKNoTzObmgOUU_A5_OuCMxJqClcR1dy2CuN6cIR9DoqYHtLXgTPBafaXQ/s320/IMG_371_0148_231.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEa2XfRkWnYa84_Y-Bi_Mtr-MfluqGpPikSogIoWgWkxNnJLWRWaSXZt3u-57uKnRDt_gb491GrOfnCQV4LxzG_TmrljaKMyplCsz-0LCKPsSmN2YWVQf4SMMUy4Bt49L4Wy827Wqrs4/s1600-h/DSC_0077.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234971797535552130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEa2XfRkWnYa84_Y-Bi_Mtr-MfluqGpPikSogIoWgWkxNnJLWRWaSXZt3u-57uKnRDt_gb491GrOfnCQV4LxzG_TmrljaKMyplCsz-0LCKPsSmN2YWVQf4SMMUy4Bt49L4Wy827Wqrs4/s320/DSC_0077.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbqjDc5NHYQT30rszEzj5FJMCfuGfnJgSrbVevzVorH7FPjYY-uZqNgvpuhTjvcL2zjMJ3oeoYlsqOCM0t2MA0xqU_yb4zjZ-eyqROMMPM6UEju8g-7BbmR5GV_IoCqS3U1bRW9mtnOY/s1600-h/IMG_364_0141_238.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234976879347877538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbqjDc5NHYQT30rszEzj5FJMCfuGfnJgSrbVevzVorH7FPjYY-uZqNgvpuhTjvcL2zjMJ3oeoYlsqOCM0t2MA0xqU_yb4zjZ-eyqROMMPM6UEju8g-7BbmR5GV_IoCqS3U1bRW9mtnOY/s320/IMG_364_0141_238.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">We're in front of the Greco-Roman Theater. It is frequently used for operatic and theatrical performances and for concerts.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu83Ueh5ae2Y6wgskSuyORb86xFla1IX5_nLvEaeXnebxMOlSV5Uq6Q4WvaMpD4p5B9c4G9NULJ2sdxZjugZBBXuSiF_GIkY6Ntd0aGn9epgvS_uUW0JvsJO97YeLJje3aKa1n3_bgngA/s1600-h/DSC_0109.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234985805508404242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu83Ueh5ae2Y6wgskSuyORb86xFla1IX5_nLvEaeXnebxMOlSV5Uq6Q4WvaMpD4p5B9c4G9NULJ2sdxZjugZBBXuSiF_GIkY6Ntd0aGn9epgvS_uUW0JvsJO97YeLJje3aKa1n3_bgngA/s200/DSC_0109.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVVDmVIxPkJghvNtAVKEw4ip9H1niB2MqIwK8x-kSS1MsbsxRDk7tV9gF1hHm526Cmi-tZh5rX2F7Uu4vtZSgi3Z4vjRwO9ko7OaGRvHeQE0P_XKDzUt3qiU-_nCmHnMPpg_RPGuZugI/s1600-h/DSC_0099.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234989227510307522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVVDmVIxPkJghvNtAVKEw4ip9H1niB2MqIwK8x-kSS1MsbsxRDk7tV9gF1hHm526Cmi-tZh5rX2F7Uu4vtZSgi3Z4vjRwO9ko7OaGRvHeQE0P_XKDzUt3qiU-_nCmHnMPpg_RPGuZugI/s320/DSC_0099.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />A view of Messina.</span> </p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-61705917185784190702008-08-15T11:21:00.026-05:002008-08-26T17:14:16.830-05:00Day 5: Civitavecchia & Rome, Italy<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Our next stop was in the port city, Civitavecchia. From there we headed to Rome on a 2 hr. drive. This was our favorite city out of the entire cruise. Our tour was the most exausting tour out of the whole trip.... 11 and a half hours long! We went on the tour called "Roman Holiday." As we rode on the tour bus, we watched the movie, "Roman Holiday." Our first stop in Rome was to see the Mouth of Truth. Luckily no one lost their hand. :) It was thought that a liar would loose his hands if he placed them in the mouth of the Bocca del Verita. Thought to be an ancient Roman ornamental drain cover. The Mouth of Truth has hung in the portico of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome since 1632. Our tour guide told us that because of the movie... many people from Japan come to see the Bocca della Veritalla - the Mouth of Truth. And yes, most of the people in line were from Japan... and they were very excited. We then toured the church and the tile work on the floor was impressive.<br /></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YA0P62_BSv0Fw6g8bVUxn5dGu4Cnud06OriF8yiPHWlm2KtI1XFtexQQIyomrAO-l4d0Ac3dygGDQc65x86lN-pYHt7iY9tVr9mLH2Mw0LgvXFw45zIQ7WE3rJ3QW1tG76BUG8zxikM/s1600-h/DSC_0024.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234793692337432690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YA0P62_BSv0Fw6g8bVUxn5dGu4Cnud06OriF8yiPHWlm2KtI1XFtexQQIyomrAO-l4d0Ac3dygGDQc65x86lN-pYHt7iY9tVr9mLH2Mw0LgvXFw45zIQ7WE3rJ3QW1tG76BUG8zxikM/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkKrZmfHdhN1srvYDm1jk855nLlJTAQBypOcH_oVhDKLA84x908jXa3tA5RseQXmd18pDvG75VTniNQ72R39n33OZHhdF4Fb1pJOZ9xtt6LSYv2Ssdqt8L0DFqcAKSNQgaQ3XnunVNho/s1600-h/IMG_521_0298_081.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234797567508890370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkKrZmfHdhN1srvYDm1jk855nLlJTAQBypOcH_oVhDKLA84x908jXa3tA5RseQXmd18pDvG75VTniNQ72R39n33OZHhdF4Fb1pJOZ9xtt6LSYv2Ssdqt8L0DFqcAKSNQgaQ3XnunVNho/s320/IMG_521_0298_081.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlqJMiyHphgirLBZyZyJEuGyLKss2IT-8yAZS_Pi2fvDG6bN4gToLz0qmm8E5QrSXrDMDva6OwRORfPX12VcvVbJNEa93rSQM-6YBu8TVKz-f05GH3__0UjS81zli7lyEVABb5hmj0Ag/s1600-h/IMG_505_0282_097.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234796635244475186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlqJMiyHphgirLBZyZyJEuGyLKss2IT-8yAZS_Pi2fvDG6bN4gToLz0qmm8E5QrSXrDMDva6OwRORfPX12VcvVbJNEa93rSQM-6YBu8TVKz-f05GH3__0UjS81zli7lyEVABb5hmj0Ag/s320/IMG_505_0282_097.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Roman Police<br /><br /><br /><br />Then we headed to the Spanish Steps. Unfortunately there was scaffolding at the top of the steps.<br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQw4bI-WiXJGd7zc0NqHX57QbipR0Fs6kQb1dPgGH89Aw1gLJTmQbS6xlznlifeDKGyz_krSSWvDHmfOVgXJ0pJ6Gw-C9V-fCypoWq336HWCUtrp9VidR76atO_yUPEUgu2_iiIWxNvU/s1600-h/IMG_504_0281_098.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234805625187911122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQw4bI-WiXJGd7zc0NqHX57QbipR0Fs6kQb1dPgGH89Aw1gLJTmQbS6xlznlifeDKGyz_krSSWvDHmfOVgXJ0pJ6Gw-C9V-fCypoWq336HWCUtrp9VidR76atO_yUPEUgu2_iiIWxNvU/s320/IMG_504_0281_098.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5iqlqrHjLTR2rWv7mgpSp9UZ8F7bUsAQikOxJKmxwszn3Jm6i25ZDm6AEsPUz0Ybiwilg2YWNWWRTUNOmDJQ_W2KQpkBgYDLXW9LSL-yILW8r6VwgnSW-Ce-fIPd_o98w-SrhGEbrgQ/s1600-h/DSC_0087.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234808419199011362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5iqlqrHjLTR2rWv7mgpSp9UZ8F7bUsAQikOxJKmxwszn3Jm6i25ZDm6AEsPUz0Ybiwilg2YWNWWRTUNOmDJQ_W2KQpkBgYDLXW9LSL-yILW8r6VwgnSW-Ce-fIPd_o98w-SrhGEbrgQ/s320/DSC_0087.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />A view of Rome from the top of the steps. And some random shots of Rome.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HbNgxWH_kvSyqMe5CEwOJUfjtmQPWj7ckMVUCimLuR39jTi7OjttnkUJ3r4lRBEOy_-wZyaIAuSEi0BhAnWeC8mpfF_77N9K2_01gJAmEVULoVwg_HHGdbYy_jhoRFG8Y5d25Pva0Uk/s1600-h/DSC_0091.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234810294771021698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HbNgxWH_kvSyqMe5CEwOJUfjtmQPWj7ckMVUCimLuR39jTi7OjttnkUJ3r4lRBEOy_-wZyaIAuSEi0BhAnWeC8mpfF_77N9K2_01gJAmEVULoVwg_HHGdbYy_jhoRFG8Y5d25Pva0Uk/s200/DSC_0091.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHiHeHyy_ixKuqcj3hJj4IEo230l5WXGsZWqXqYETEwSd0yNSZO-dsn-li4jPXKFqPyeJypp-3O79L1TINLgY8nGYEkZY770bjzr4JvtJa1JFL3R4aJvsGJk-Y41c5zeOkLb0XEkpCVQ/s1600-h/DSC_0093.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234812308935068018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHiHeHyy_ixKuqcj3hJj4IEo230l5WXGsZWqXqYETEwSd0yNSZO-dsn-li4jPXKFqPyeJypp-3O79L1TINLgY8nGYEkZY770bjzr4JvtJa1JFL3R4aJvsGJk-Y41c5zeOkLb0XEkpCVQ/s200/DSC_0093.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacQgXhnv6Rxkfz2ZrfFY_Ji4BYz2q-RiaOXrqJWPp-lfeDZ4PIWDf222wVMaRngN_xnhN8URiC2wDYCGZZcqWFHyHatmy4cXZos_1x31f5tVYDbVPrhP2W7vrp64RiMsTlceVzE8YKYI/s1600-h/DSC_0097.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234816705635942514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacQgXhnv6Rxkfz2ZrfFY_Ji4BYz2q-RiaOXrqJWPp-lfeDZ4PIWDf222wVMaRngN_xnhN8URiC2wDYCGZZcqWFHyHatmy4cXZos_1x31f5tVYDbVPrhP2W7vrp64RiMsTlceVzE8YKYI/s200/DSC_0097.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvswb2TUZ8US_89PuFG7nXFU7ksQpWfM_qERxuCysrzPYyHg_1kILN8L5VSuWN1xp6HX5-h9gyS6yaOMyxcXML_cgRPR2IcTPZrN09nxn9MYNjJxPN8IivEtY55SX3zBWoXdIQLcKRh0/s1600-h/IMG_499_0276_103.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234821245955490530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvswb2TUZ8US_89PuFG7nXFU7ksQpWfM_qERxuCysrzPYyHg_1kILN8L5VSuWN1xp6HX5-h9gyS6yaOMyxcXML_cgRPR2IcTPZrN09nxn9MYNjJxPN8IivEtY55SX3zBWoXdIQLcKRh0/s200/IMG_499_0276_103.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJbwJD8UajLiL-2mK3S_s_UQ-MSKeJne1xuM4LulLJBX4uWTIoX0_sq47BomsLpKfuQc_AwdQg4Ga1fxLX5zoq0sJ01fEw1eBuRzd2SbGiL3b2PfZ7JfcGv5ecgJcAT-hIVvouqM8R3Q/s1600-h/IMG_497_0274_105.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234824054180513058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJbwJD8UajLiL-2mK3S_s_UQ-MSKeJne1xuM4LulLJBX4uWTIoX0_sq47BomsLpKfuQc_AwdQg4Ga1fxLX5zoq0sJ01fEw1eBuRzd2SbGiL3b2PfZ7JfcGv5ecgJcAT-hIVvouqM8R3Q/s320/IMG_497_0274_105.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The most famous fountain in Rome is the Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that it is lucky to throw three coins with one's right hand over one's left shoulder into the Waters of the Trevi Fountain. We only threw one coin. I guess it worked because we had a great experience on our cruise and made it home safely. :)<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-2JKsYxYFPbgBwRjw_oX0AC4Tdt4T3sPcqSEvlIvjpyjee_BmKAwanRa7jORFmW0Abrxgc4SO_HDlS3Xtz8n4Fs7RwVUh7a5Z6oteZygOlo_HARK-Ty6PE1bPuGaFUstumh_-Gx7XnM/s1600-h/DSC_0125.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234827326773070802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-2JKsYxYFPbgBwRjw_oX0AC4Tdt4T3sPcqSEvlIvjpyjee_BmKAwanRa7jORFmW0Abrxgc4SO_HDlS3Xtz8n4Fs7RwVUh7a5Z6oteZygOlo_HARK-Ty6PE1bPuGaFUstumh_-Gx7XnM/s320/DSC_0125.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> One of the best-known symbols of Roman neoclassicism is the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II or "Altar of Fatherland." This is where the Grave of the Unknown Soldier, that represents the 650,000 Italians that fell in World War I, is located.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-11wxJ9-LlvcfuPWGbqFCXS2CvaZP0i6ByGJXzcWSe0AGuIvzspZ1WrrzOWDYNtJLmZUpRCqDUWAfRpVHffJQvMXN8Qv-PFszUi6PKXnLXVXenJgw04HbqiuDGcffptoPnvUgMs5wlE/s1600-h/DSC_0140.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234851178166320994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-11wxJ9-LlvcfuPWGbqFCXS2CvaZP0i6ByGJXzcWSe0AGuIvzspZ1WrrzOWDYNtJLmZUpRCqDUWAfRpVHffJQvMXN8Qv-PFszUi6PKXnLXVXenJgw04HbqiuDGcffptoPnvUgMs5wlE/s200/DSC_0140.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> Trajans Column<br />Completed in 113, the freestanding column is most famous for its spiral bas relief, which commemorates Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm0x4O1kmHeTp5EggBzyitAXNUAD4JMqpi_VHh0yuE2epQF38GaCm8T7ALz66t3to21vrCUDjeXkE5-yap5SdkF7iX1EWWPflIh1B2o06EcO0cVULgkL87NiC7KnTtD5u57TSyNoW6uQ/s1600-h/DSC_0157.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234863692423517314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm0x4O1kmHeTp5EggBzyitAXNUAD4JMqpi_VHh0yuE2epQF38GaCm8T7ALz66t3to21vrCUDjeXkE5-yap5SdkF7iX1EWWPflIh1B2o06EcO0cVULgkL87NiC7KnTtD5u57TSyNoW6uQ/s200/DSC_0157.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUi338J8awk0FreaSaEbaOVDp6fW-AEThxX9Mwvw3ySnOmNxLTFXA4T3731U571ihXK-VllnJj2VWbeofrRVDYoFYk_ufH5BBzT7lcEUc4DNT_8KlSVznWnWnrhELd1Do93ernD-BoMs/s1600-h/DSC_0155.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234866884275812994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUi338J8awk0FreaSaEbaOVDp6fW-AEThxX9Mwvw3ySnOmNxLTFXA4T3731U571ihXK-VllnJj2VWbeofrRVDYoFYk_ufH5BBzT7lcEUc4DNT_8KlSVznWnWnrhELd1Do93ernD-BoMs/s200/DSC_0155.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> More random shots of Rome.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHtKKPKQCDq5nvs2_CJHlaRMcUf3z-z8Kbn4uKnMrqZCNZull5rZruzmQ36smnmTYhk5UVaX31wAN47Agxu7KRKErBSYARhxXh0nEs7B_G71udwNPp9acdBZn2QSDqxqtjzaiDX488uE/s1600-h/DSC_0200.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234870360610656706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHtKKPKQCDq5nvs2_CJHlaRMcUf3z-z8Kbn4uKnMrqZCNZull5rZruzmQ36smnmTYhk5UVaX31wAN47Agxu7KRKErBSYARhxXh0nEs7B_G71udwNPp9acdBZn2QSDqxqtjzaiDX488uE/s320/DSC_0200.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> This was where Audrey Hepburn addressed the media at the end of the movie "Roman Holiday." It is an elegant restaurant where we ate lunch and drank wine. We were VERY glad to be in an air conditioned building with cold water to drink. Rome was HOT!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIqQL3eLN9bl9HGqDBstSsWFU8Bj3QNkqnBxC4N4BQW10bUVvvUubjTxpO4qG8bcDn7viaBCAOnm49t0LKqt_lyyEYwfbPPwnID9AW4KdyTXnx-Oiwswh1PhqSc6NxtGk4ZtEsZddrjI/s1600-h/IMG_468_0245_134.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234875416443536306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIqQL3eLN9bl9HGqDBstSsWFU8Bj3QNkqnBxC4N4BQW10bUVvvUubjTxpO4qG8bcDn7viaBCAOnm49t0LKqt_lyyEYwfbPPwnID9AW4KdyTXnx-Oiwswh1PhqSc6NxtGk4ZtEsZddrjI/s320/IMG_468_0245_134.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Robert and I in front of the Roman Colosseum.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z0b1TkU9kVrwo-h5V2x_jVzaEWIV6AYRYAb_ksxexhggrYqji63BiUN0wrzntxEhcrEVoJ1LrTu7SHe-JdOFvaZWvM45jXBnaIycYfW4N-4AqMinpIKYDn_61W8ydo35vi7H7b_AI5M/s1600-h/DSC_0271.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234878113261636674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z0b1TkU9kVrwo-h5V2x_jVzaEWIV6AYRYAb_ksxexhggrYqji63BiUN0wrzntxEhcrEVoJ1LrTu7SHe-JdOFvaZWvM45jXBnaIycYfW4N-4AqMinpIKYDn_61W8ydo35vi7H7b_AI5M/s320/DSC_0271.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3DwpcuXWTf59i3FpgI2k8hezP7GGVFxMqS65UdboDzTo4WYWM_daW-49jkxde8o8YSW1BdsQj3zhQI7GGDxgE3-MfYeE921hqrYlU7FY7TUK9h1FhtQ_mSPWxZX2XxzlhuKf_jcFpoA/s1600-h/DSC_0293.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234880081446659666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3DwpcuXWTf59i3FpgI2k8hezP7GGVFxMqS65UdboDzTo4WYWM_daW-49jkxde8o8YSW1BdsQj3zhQI7GGDxgE3-MfYeE921hqrYlU7FY7TUK9h1FhtQ_mSPWxZX2XxzlhuKf_jcFpoA/s200/DSC_0293.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Pantheon... my favorite building on the whole trip... absolutely gorgeous!!<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqKioesjtM7Xw745TSRVmp0pH_5UlWMlfZeqygRrnKuzpr5C62qUvTN9lPIg8wBz3vUZDPhyphenhyphen5V6aqmRFnF3Y-sQCpZeP4hNkBCVZHz_7OEEBvUkKB13hD2iOF3noG9APuwi9rS8-j4eQ/s1600-h/IMG_440_0217_162.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234882731050786274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqKioesjtM7Xw745TSRVmp0pH_5UlWMlfZeqygRrnKuzpr5C62qUvTN9lPIg8wBz3vUZDPhyphenhyphen5V6aqmRFnF3Y-sQCpZeP4hNkBCVZHz_7OEEBvUkKB13hD2iOF3noG9APuwi9rS8-j4eQ/s200/IMG_440_0217_162.jpg" border="0" /></span></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-37167922198174876792008-07-30T13:54:00.031-05:002008-08-26T17:19:18.500-05:00Day 4: Tuscany - Livorno, Lucca, and Villa Lucchese in Italy<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Our next stop was in the port city, Livorno. There was nothing to do there, since it is mostly an unloading port for cargo to be shipped to Pisa and Florence. We chose not to visit Florence or Pisa. Robert had a friend that lived in Italy who told him that Pisa is not at all exciting. All there is there are pick-pocketers and the leaning tower. His friend also told us that when you visit Tuscany.... you want to see the countryside, so we chose the excursion that took us to Lucca .<br /><br /></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnQKUV2vahKWXAVzNyWM935NA5HGEoDcuWmAyWShIRes2_FjTSuHktuEFQo9L-1T2hpegyxUnVT5OzM3VZ4rV6MxJAlqBwd2xqtsW4WPNCpYAFcpCIXio0trvpVouyHDyfZAjYC79PuY/s1600-h/DSC_0016.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228913845899292274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnQKUV2vahKWXAVzNyWM935NA5HGEoDcuWmAyWShIRes2_FjTSuHktuEFQo9L-1T2hpegyxUnVT5OzM3VZ4rV6MxJAlqBwd2xqtsW4WPNCpYAFcpCIXio0trvpVouyHDyfZAjYC79PuY/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />This is the port of Livorno. I like the striped smoke stacks.<br /><br />(By-the-way, you can click on any picture to see it in a bigger size.)<br /><br /><br />Livorno used to be swamplands and infested with mosquitos. Malaria became a big problem until the Italians found a mushroom-shaped pine tree that scared off mosquitos due to the pollen. They also found that sunflowers grew well there. Here is a picture of the pines and sunflowers.<br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOceEkXxOxcvRMbOZqAulL9Rq-JB6CRz4Y0l0LhNyebv7MuY6aZROrkhyphenhyphen2B3QCzk4yOIUUkiOKYXOa1JMSD6OwpuB-lOvvEyhczDEASteqgJfAoBR_dZWgyeqeCshPSbJSQx6X3rGvu2s/s1600-h/DSC_0019.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228916684002612354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOceEkXxOxcvRMbOZqAulL9Rq-JB6CRz4Y0l0LhNyebv7MuY6aZROrkhyphenhyphen2B3QCzk4yOIUUkiOKYXOa1JMSD6OwpuB-lOvvEyhczDEASteqgJfAoBR_dZWgyeqeCshPSbJSQx6X3rGvu2s/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br /><br /><br />Our tour was a 45 minute drive through the countryside. Lucca, pronounced (Loo-cuh), was a neat old village. The old part of Lucca is surrounded by a huge brick wall, and it is still all intact. There are trees, grass, and flowers growing along the top of the wall. Many people like to walk along the top of the wall. The "new" Lucca is outside the walls.<br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufqjfyxgPNqVYKVNG2Xs42vEUc5Zrwr3YHGVQ3EzzMxbMDp_FubF8uUcjo7jtO2xWHy_qx-Jio5sQ6t-Yxb7UIhFFwMMC8VotiS0wESCYt6Ep-DCvMIqHWPnEPbedD4DNzNPIPi1IUOI/s1600-h/DSC_0027.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228923284680146642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufqjfyxgPNqVYKVNG2Xs42vEUc5Zrwr3YHGVQ3EzzMxbMDp_FubF8uUcjo7jtO2xWHy_qx-Jio5sQ6t-Yxb7UIhFFwMMC8VotiS0wESCYt6Ep-DCvMIqHWPnEPbedD4DNzNPIPi1IUOI/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Notice the trees on top of the wall surrounding old Lucca. (Unfortunately, we could only get pictures from inside the bus.)<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS8erUaUPK8eIJW3e21T4opwGN46dvo4YseAIXyO4D9J1yR30oirUcKW0_avZPlxDDus5v1-uczgdW5hmTVYJ1CW9M2n6cCAhyphenhyphenACnmRT1mFbQHF_IWqJZ-M5yXuNKgRbEK0DepiKlsNI/s1600-h/DSC_0188.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228925337504580226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS8erUaUPK8eIJW3e21T4opwGN46dvo4YseAIXyO4D9J1yR30oirUcKW0_avZPlxDDus5v1-uczgdW5hmTVYJ1CW9M2n6cCAhyphenhyphenACnmRT1mFbQHF_IWqJZ-M5yXuNKgRbEK0DepiKlsNI/s320/DSC_0188.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />To the right is a gate that leads into old Lucca. You can see more of the wall topped with trees.<br /><br /><br />Lucca became a Roman colony in 180 BC. A famous opera composer, Giacomo Puccini (La bohème and Madama Butterfly), was born in Lucca.<br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHalZDRM3oQXVca7-klx2LCbRVD-L4LZ4pQ9D4i3u7kmfvk2rG2rAFo0eww0hxMKmr2nicVAWDsyJHv1jJlG5VoOc7nZlg9L4VKcYRNiaRQoTspu2OBtr6W8xzJfPGDfbk7_aSDLKOeBQ/s1600-h/DSC_0042.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228930050441047906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHalZDRM3oQXVca7-klx2LCbRVD-L4LZ4pQ9D4i3u7kmfvk2rG2rAFo0eww0hxMKmr2nicVAWDsyJHv1jJlG5VoOc7nZlg9L4VKcYRNiaRQoTspu2OBtr6W8xzJfPGDfbk7_aSDLKOeBQ/s320/DSC_0042.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Mom, Dad, and Me in old Lucca<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmrv1U8jSUFKlLVKiaWRZRfTEvN69C393uR7xdXz9CMqoQEvCT7y8PJlLDgKEsKMsteOPXX_27QqHSIZzRtFVH8k6K8DIH5cKw7R1juosorYctfrYHoiu2RYqsYVaBBXL0mKbTfbdL6Y/s1600-h/DSC_0041.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228931965766981234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmrv1U8jSUFKlLVKiaWRZRfTEvN69C393uR7xdXz9CMqoQEvCT7y8PJlLDgKEsKMsteOPXX_27QqHSIZzRtFVH8k6K8DIH5cKw7R1juosorYctfrYHoiu2RYqsYVaBBXL0mKbTfbdL6Y/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />A statue of Puccini<br /><br /><br /><br />There are many richly built medieval basilica-form churches especially for such a small village. Our tour guide told us that many of the wealthy families in Lucca would try to "out do" the other families in building their church. This beautiful church, the San Michele in Foro, was built during the 13th century with the intent of finishing the building behind its beautiful facade.... but they ran out of money.<br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIprAD8BlT9FDGMmC7feXN6g8xpWnQ24aoyfVuZLhj32lr6oKUSpMPLwOphYTSbQrelaLYvWy8I9uIw8Ws7wZF_PEZYqVWQ2swrQR74dAP8ksYjaBvcX2-ZyznroMG0bGfpcau9EQbg4c/s1600-h/DSC_0053.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228934892934250146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIprAD8BlT9FDGMmC7feXN6g8xpWnQ24aoyfVuZLhj32lr6oKUSpMPLwOphYTSbQrelaLYvWy8I9uIw8Ws7wZF_PEZYqVWQ2swrQR74dAP8ksYjaBvcX2-ZyznroMG0bGfpcau9EQbg4c/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Notice the different columns<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBSbZmA2G9iBBHFBGcRuMwD3uMg8tkNP9BndzYBzzLA8wZPzBjEuu9dfi9Qg0Il4HDkPnWpdxX4k-hEBM9q3Jm3XXtctM4H1c5ZzB_KRDeZ_VhtmpDU5OA-mqx9OWx3AG7n0-_O-V0UY/s1600-h/DSC_0060.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228939074608048434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBSbZmA2G9iBBHFBGcRuMwD3uMg8tkNP9BndzYBzzLA8wZPzBjEuu9dfi9Qg0Il4HDkPnWpdxX4k-hEBM9q3Jm3XXtctM4H1c5ZzB_KRDeZ_VhtmpDU5OA-mqx9OWx3AG7n0-_O-V0UY/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Interesting how it appeared from the front to be a very tall church.<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismzWd4S_Fvu5WQDGcI6TF-VV-cl6gnaBiuMM-wzI1c71QsrZQT5Bba6nYG8fMLcgjuM-OqpG-ENSrFMuQLpBofC6w89FfARqOrEFurIZYAm2Nm2k8hsHlbP31W1C_KmbdxZGmZBXBdOI/s1600-h/DSC_0066.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228946339946571570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismzWd4S_Fvu5WQDGcI6TF-VV-cl6gnaBiuMM-wzI1c71QsrZQT5Bba6nYG8fMLcgjuM-OqpG-ENSrFMuQLpBofC6w89FfARqOrEFurIZYAm2Nm2k8hsHlbP31W1C_KmbdxZGmZBXBdOI/s320/DSC_0066.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />A clock that's over 300 yrs. old.<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50UO4YHZPTvsZtGCGgdqB9YfCLKDDG6VmD9_9aRbraoRkNf5cPT8N_r86sEaTGTxENh4pMwI8wYvL0twFm5j0FxrB-HXvfz1yeA_jkPft5m7A4YAkpUqYL3Su-MoUIDISSGo9oufexXg/s1600-h/DSC_0098.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228952566647103618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50UO4YHZPTvsZtGCGgdqB9YfCLKDDG6VmD9_9aRbraoRkNf5cPT8N_r86sEaTGTxENh4pMwI8wYvL0twFm5j0FxrB-HXvfz1yeA_jkPft5m7A4YAkpUqYL3Su-MoUIDISSGo9oufexXg/s320/DSC_0098.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />There were many private gardens throughout Lucca.<br /><br /><br />There were also many towers throughout Lucca to provide a lookout, a place to cool off, and to build status among the city. These were later transformed into extra rooms for apartments.<br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6hy9kOMoyzfRHOzWnX7-xme5JLZfp6qMaaiFUZ4v8Dew7zxIxxzXGX884lDygOp2owc-aTB0Fy_qWS3lTMdAWj5eHSrALIRffGcoywVU2CgZqAvAfVzMOutOxhViTxmkw_Rg_bI0eec/s1600-h/DSC_0122.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228958004691697410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6hy9kOMoyzfRHOzWnX7-xme5JLZfp6qMaaiFUZ4v8Dew7zxIxxzXGX884lDygOp2owc-aTB0Fy_qWS3lTMdAWj5eHSrALIRffGcoywVU2CgZqAvAfVzMOutOxhViTxmkw_Rg_bI0eec/s320/DSC_0122.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Robert climbed up this 15 story tower, the tallest tower in Lucca (in the far background of this picture.) Notice the trees growing on top. Robert appreciated the shade they provided as he took more pictures of Lucca.<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_vlfEH1IZ3weMvJdNYcPxmimCGrkFunUUdE50DFY0hCe6xwQs8oglSmKujTSDIGKAfirTABWYxb8xVFeUGGj_neA8ATFXziHI9NvazBUcIJLa9qpe6PuyVzo6OMlgEsqEifJ2lKQtc8/s1600-h/DSC_0153.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228963081331684338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_vlfEH1IZ3weMvJdNYcPxmimCGrkFunUUdE50DFY0hCe6xwQs8oglSmKujTSDIGKAfirTABWYxb8xVFeUGGj_neA8ATFXziHI9NvazBUcIJLa9qpe6PuyVzo6OMlgEsqEifJ2lKQtc8/s320/DSC_0153.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />A view of Lucca<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQstIyn7R4600Gy1xm5_dMieMMOp79a751_FCOv3IZ9OoQ9tuh_CIpYc8Jl6Ga4jwnsd_8ympQPiMiBkFCRGZdHRTAPryHIi1yI1JyhyV4ODoUZhpjUMAlV9uH1S4Atx_HCy5g_XRmUuA/s1600-h/DSC_0174.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228965338374299826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQstIyn7R4600Gy1xm5_dMieMMOp79a751_FCOv3IZ9OoQ9tuh_CIpYc8Jl6Ga4jwnsd_8ympQPiMiBkFCRGZdHRTAPryHIi1yI1JyhyV4ODoUZhpjUMAlV9uH1S4Atx_HCy5g_XRmUuA/s320/DSC_0174.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />A view of the Piazza Anfiteatro<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TB8R3-vzSSrRAWcdw3By_Ghh6L2bfalGr-A85DY4kBY4C6wuNb9WK7gj_qNv6E7BeX9lyaKs5VRe03kQnq2wAu7JtLRxbK_frL3MjFyezV6F4ghwysEvLUa2_9sWkh253y03HCgP0uU/s1600-h/DSC_0151.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228971152410546242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TB8R3-vzSSrRAWcdw3By_Ghh6L2bfalGr-A85DY4kBY4C6wuNb9WK7gj_qNv6E7BeX9lyaKs5VRe03kQnq2wAu7JtLRxbK_frL3MjFyezV6F4ghwysEvLUa2_9sWkh253y03HCgP0uU/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Proof that Robert made it to the top of a very tall tower!<br /><br />Napolean took over Lucca in 1805 and made his sister govenor of Lucca. She tore down some buildings behind her palace because she wanted open space. They now use that square as a place for entertaining concerts and festivals. (I hope I am not boring you with the history, but I found it interesting and I'm not usually one who enjoys history.)<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ljv_2pl4yPasVCIwD5lKwGU69ILbrhIktLL-hsVbMAd3lTgFb4syOt3IL6fepN93yZNf_znY-TctsEI7DbXPkpMQlDjRi5c-VH4T5nw4DMOZq6u8YHRWTpYT5q6YbIgy_dqtuXnibT4/s1600-h/DSC_0080.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228954655227899906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ljv_2pl4yPasVCIwD5lKwGU69ILbrhIktLL-hsVbMAd3lTgFb4syOt3IL6fepN93yZNf_znY-TctsEI7DbXPkpMQlDjRi5c-VH4T5nw4DMOZq6u8YHRWTpYT5q6YbIgy_dqtuXnibT4/s320/DSC_0080.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Napolean's sister's palace.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Later that day we drove to a house out in the countryside for wine and lunch. The owner of the house produces his own wine and olive oil (which we bought a bottle of.) The view from his house was breathtaking! Hills full of olive trees and grape vineyards!<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YXVdZjJtexGOUCbUBp3BHSytcPQ7kjl2KOqkKRVKRQBVs-SVgz1qSzZsEZHqoNmmmfDC_iIzsA8U521dyTdZuXEejJWauwsH2Fl8cYn5PeyibV0XijpoyIhs6PBJrO6cV0EmCyfQqV0/s1600-h/DSC_0200.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228973813775628786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YXVdZjJtexGOUCbUBp3BHSytcPQ7kjl2KOqkKRVKRQBVs-SVgz1qSzZsEZHqoNmmmfDC_iIzsA8U521dyTdZuXEejJWauwsH2Fl8cYn5PeyibV0XijpoyIhs6PBJrO6cV0EmCyfQqV0/s320/DSC_0200.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Here are the olive trees with a beautiful view behind.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbgf4bkPimZV9JLURnH_P-zeC4UKLH_K_bQbjfVBrmPz7Bn5TYsaHOruno9KTw14oFNem-fLFB_bydzaRGrYZp_Ls8sQqaye9It8xSlZcVipR24c4EeB76ZoAkOmPAU3qa4LlXzo2bSQ/s1600-h/DSC_0209.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228991230823912002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbgf4bkPimZV9JLURnH_P-zeC4UKLH_K_bQbjfVBrmPz7Bn5TYsaHOruno9KTw14oFNem-fLFB_bydzaRGrYZp_Ls8sQqaye9It8xSlZcVipR24c4EeB76ZoAkOmPAU3qa4LlXzo2bSQ/s320/DSC_0209.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Robert and I eating lunch at the farm house in Tuscany.<br /><br /><br /><br />After lunch we headed to the Villa Lucchese and toured a beautiful summer palace. The gardens around the palace were impressive. There was a pool and 3 fountains and many beautiful statues. The inside of the palace was just as impressive. The ceilings were covered in frescos and some of the furniture was covered in elaborate needlepoint.<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ciizfgNSAHruBOzPv5qsSQPJDLyHW-qbxoqUsNml2_JrlgrsZ80e81igHivRCW_SMLpnthkrlvRZvqdwFoT-cPCXk47xCD8GKLPRtRNtsSYmIsWCq6eQE_mqtsbv2INUxEKoyiBPbeA/s1600-h/DSC_0235.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229003423253807634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ciizfgNSAHruBOzPv5qsSQPJDLyHW-qbxoqUsNml2_JrlgrsZ80e81igHivRCW_SMLpnthkrlvRZvqdwFoT-cPCXk47xCD8GKLPRtRNtsSYmIsWCq6eQE_mqtsbv2INUxEKoyiBPbeA/s320/DSC_0235.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />The summer palace in Villa Lucchese<br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpBeknH7rj0f8PLsCFpJ8WpQIa8VB7RKYhDTcDgKUleP2_nGhL4I47muxSWxfAwtbogf2dJGedkPJp7nRVAyMWTypPX8iWCkxw0vbFJ02SjHxHgVN5kXl37KqtOEzWVcYXgsZ2FM1E_c/s1600-h/DSC_0249.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229002015321734018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpBeknH7rj0f8PLsCFpJ8WpQIa8VB7RKYhDTcDgKUleP2_nGhL4I47muxSWxfAwtbogf2dJGedkPJp7nRVAyMWTypPX8iWCkxw0vbFJ02SjHxHgVN5kXl37KqtOEzWVcYXgsZ2FM1E_c/s320/DSC_0249.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Beautiful gardens<br /><br /><br /></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rP-d0xVHVZcFqO_WycxoEsVxQvcTMI2b5X1TWngNg216cu9z1I29l4T87RMDL1Ijr4xq6424ma4U19U3_hXz5ENu2vdRIfOd8KW97Ge9myubV3TYQAf-PLlgxAK4zGR_Wx8lKflSpKE/s1600-h/DSC_0260.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229032456572799138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rP-d0xVHVZcFqO_WycxoEsVxQvcTMI2b5X1TWngNg216cu9z1I29l4T87RMDL1Ijr4xq6424ma4U19U3_hXz5ENu2vdRIfOd8KW97Ge9myubV3TYQAf-PLlgxAK4zGR_Wx8lKflSpKE/s320/DSC_0260.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />The statues in this garden are between 200 to 300 years old.<br /><br />Lucca is a place you should definitely visit if you ever travel to Tuscany!!</span></p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-62643800650664644622008-07-29T23:32:00.017-05:002008-08-01T09:06:19.200-05:00Pictures of Monte Carlo, Nice, and Eze<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTdj7FXRlJvtfcOWqjqmDKmliQeCPqx7DZHGxCyAhmCUKMocwqx8zNWbSR3GOIDQzrPT_nOk002fWKbjB6316hTla3vI0yWBS0MLWLXle8ND0XYBv0gDhbYhd4BouY0gcvd0WhmWp4wg/s1600-h/DSC_0124.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTdj7FXRlJvtfcOWqjqmDKmliQeCPqx7DZHGxCyAhmCUKMocwqx8zNWbSR3GOIDQzrPT_nOk002fWKbjB6316hTla3vI0yWBS0MLWLXle8ND0XYBv0gDhbYhd4BouY0gcvd0WhmWp4wg/s320/DSC_0124.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228880058660452018" /></a><br /><br />Our ship, the Zuiderdam in Monaco.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwP7klkKAo8KdEaEYC2HGVqBF72tm_5CY8-lTSNs3e09xMegZ-MVeyhLYt22KlrfwSH02nEQ0wTAXXr4B7AyqCR9nAMKAMww59vgA1a1cGnPEB7pGRUy9QZYyZtUSXK70-cmJRmAP1n7E/s1600-h/DSC_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwP7klkKAo8KdEaEYC2HGVqBF72tm_5CY8-lTSNs3e09xMegZ-MVeyhLYt22KlrfwSH02nEQ0wTAXXr4B7AyqCR9nAMKAMww59vgA1a1cGnPEB7pGRUy9QZYyZtUSXK70-cmJRmAP1n7E/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228877453642879954" /></a><br /><br />The beach front of Monte Carlo, Monaco.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaSgz_j1041DetA7mZF1sSwRKFZ9JS-7h9Ura6rxNUeCMkZMiUkbrhjDaNLzSI7RlvJkiobWsZ5f2nAs3pzEBLpqkTYDldPydZB27Diy68tk0KA_g2IQrYvn5nQUHIq9IsUDl0KXiMfA/s1600-h/1111+(5).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaSgz_j1041DetA7mZF1sSwRKFZ9JS-7h9Ura6rxNUeCMkZMiUkbrhjDaNLzSI7RlvJkiobWsZ5f2nAs3pzEBLpqkTYDldPydZB27Diy68tk0KA_g2IQrYvn5nQUHIq9IsUDl0KXiMfA/s320/1111+(5).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228876249542155442" /></a><br /><br />The Monte Carlo Casino at night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZZckEEkuSOJkH1kzza-xIPmBaNa_TD-g7O6HhYIO7EQt4KdXPP9T7YVaTo8_3PDWJEVNXsSaMS6y8nMspDkV6p_XUFBsWXGi-57msjyRa3Jxzxf8eD_fo7H1xMcO2t4SJMGqn1sdtq0/s1600-h/DSC_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZZckEEkuSOJkH1kzza-xIPmBaNa_TD-g7O6HhYIO7EQt4KdXPP9T7YVaTo8_3PDWJEVNXsSaMS6y8nMspDkV6p_XUFBsWXGi-57msjyRa3Jxzxf8eD_fo7H1xMcO2t4SJMGqn1sdtq0/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228873177651792498" /></a><br /><br />The Monte Carlo Casino used in the James Bond movies "Never Say Never" and "GoldenEye." <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ALDVYDKVrJmvGjBQdyw0oP-RfqSoKFnNoQti3ADQzVYs1UKr1ftS6wnJfGedY2GPIdLri9xR1zK2cTo6vyNNxwXZLV2eBh7WzEbJ1cam2mdQsyutmNk3vtpQRycsUP2IvFR6JXNX9E0/s1600-h/DSC_0024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ALDVYDKVrJmvGjBQdyw0oP-RfqSoKFnNoQti3ADQzVYs1UKr1ftS6wnJfGedY2GPIdLri9xR1zK2cTo6vyNNxwXZLV2eBh7WzEbJ1cam2mdQsyutmNk3vtpQRycsUP2IvFR6JXNX9E0/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228871223827925026" /></a><br /><br />Dad walking through the flower market in Nice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinef5qkr_PbaRm71gYhuzoVbr4ThfROGbk-sPppxdqT50UgPqWRHAGaOz6JKPFixoQTpYCeWa8mQPXPoZZR8q13-T_m0cm6tC-nr3YbrGL3eDzIAja3YFZtmGjkoAwweKHIwN6LSc7WbQ/s1600-h/DSC_0025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinef5qkr_PbaRm71gYhuzoVbr4ThfROGbk-sPppxdqT50UgPqWRHAGaOz6JKPFixoQTpYCeWa8mQPXPoZZR8q13-T_m0cm6tC-nr3YbrGL3eDzIAja3YFZtmGjkoAwweKHIwN6LSc7WbQ/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228839946375361714" /></a><br /><br />More flowers<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-T-tDoi0pe6frgNwM9vc1hZ2b-xZVM3HB6_YH47dyEs3x1XDtMi_0b-w2rzmdhbe_w-UqnAyxwWSwnnlR2CPjtvsjZsOZrfF9RDX91VIqO5WY8w7ftXHLc27ovkUdlKl3Iovmr3ZysA/s1600-h/DSC_0030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-T-tDoi0pe6frgNwM9vc1hZ2b-xZVM3HB6_YH47dyEs3x1XDtMi_0b-w2rzmdhbe_w-UqnAyxwWSwnnlR2CPjtvsjZsOZrfF9RDX91VIqO5WY8w7ftXHLc27ovkUdlKl3Iovmr3ZysA/s320/DSC_0030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228838687611824706" /></a><br /><br />Here I am.... sweat'n in Nice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVaiXllZI7KejIUSFkPqZmh0cIXoKoDMu0Si-PcHhZSfDpGZxLjZCUcgn803CmxyI9vVjzwLPHvB4LDmhWFbeGA3hJaMeQqz8tDaG6jYRoDR3Jl8gCvx7x1BR-oWydkJy83fCBZ8HZZk/s1600-h/DSC_0026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVaiXllZI7KejIUSFkPqZmh0cIXoKoDMu0Si-PcHhZSfDpGZxLjZCUcgn803CmxyI9vVjzwLPHvB4LDmhWFbeGA3hJaMeQqz8tDaG6jYRoDR3Jl8gCvx7x1BR-oWydkJy83fCBZ8HZZk/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228837300329565154" /></a><br /><br />A palace in Nice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmmDWKhJCFY5cD6uhjVJ_c0qGfMoxJx2pCzlKwrk6YRwjyeLMy4TS_mm6t4SPsMzkeOQRiob8YChlCWoNeX2MeBxVF1f3waKBWXoxa_zVLi3LTjML7SG57RnwwKxPzC8CeC8HncNGtPA/s1600-h/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmmDWKhJCFY5cD6uhjVJ_c0qGfMoxJx2pCzlKwrk6YRwjyeLMy4TS_mm6t4SPsMzkeOQRiob8YChlCWoNeX2MeBxVF1f3waKBWXoxa_zVLi3LTjML7SG57RnwwKxPzC8CeC8HncNGtPA/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228835417736572786" /></a><br /><br />See? No sand on the beach.... just rocks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zha4HdU8r9r0xKUsKpn030CdTtQ5TsL_DdLsKpL_9JzKi_xmAPLH3HqVcIIS4Lcl_evbLEczNU1VM1EjUKURnWy2KimAL6Hjn-3r5J9kBo0Y4woYGFYV5kJAZqx42uyFsrQCwQBAv4M/s1600-h/DSC_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zha4HdU8r9r0xKUsKpn030CdTtQ5TsL_DdLsKpL_9JzKi_xmAPLH3HqVcIIS4Lcl_evbLEczNU1VM1EjUKURnWy2KimAL6Hjn-3r5J9kBo0Y4woYGFYV5kJAZqx42uyFsrQCwQBAv4M/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228834207130485730" /></a><br /><br />The only sand... for a V-ball court. (on the right)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLa69lNKajKgZo55iteztSamsRLS-cYVTQ0kkv7ahbuQID3CZdituzgQ1h8Qy1DGLs95X0gBRMgVJbIAWROep6dREy_eV6GiIVuOG7E17X6cbZoxk9HpM7VSx6w2NIBZLQQ6PiOQt5lA/s1600-h/DSC_0050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLa69lNKajKgZo55iteztSamsRLS-cYVTQ0kkv7ahbuQID3CZdituzgQ1h8Qy1DGLs95X0gBRMgVJbIAWROep6dREy_eV6GiIVuOG7E17X6cbZoxk9HpM7VSx6w2NIBZLQQ6PiOQt5lA/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228832719856433090" /></a><br /><br />A Mosque in Nice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6NgMcAdNZ_8RpRR7sbQXZsXGFDCKHQ-oXhuz1l56smfwYuy2mCoR-mRMyjJn5ToQmADMxC-yjUjg77cRP9SGuAYV7INVTyOrZhzLTtTsuYMAB5F4KFjv1zzaxQYzbuRhUubMlUyVw7E/s1600-h/DSC_0074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6NgMcAdNZ_8RpRR7sbQXZsXGFDCKHQ-oXhuz1l56smfwYuy2mCoR-mRMyjJn5ToQmADMxC-yjUjg77cRP9SGuAYV7INVTyOrZhzLTtTsuYMAB5F4KFjv1zzaxQYzbuRhUubMlUyVw7E/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228831321321037778" /></a><br /><br />A view of Nice as we are heading to Eze.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4Nflg1N_lCqqqskXrUlXgT8dpIcjqwVe7hlxycmuOAkaQzi3xnWQEsDNr7Zgky5wArLnuSfj0Gjar5m3mQ5C1Yj2sfFyILkcLurPRiYG2D4EcwtUR_zcGAsRmc1HFbNx_XY4k5YCvXs/s1600-h/DSC_0087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4Nflg1N_lCqqqskXrUlXgT8dpIcjqwVe7hlxycmuOAkaQzi3xnWQEsDNr7Zgky5wArLnuSfj0Gjar5m3mQ5C1Yj2sfFyILkcLurPRiYG2D4EcwtUR_zcGAsRmc1HFbNx_XY4k5YCvXs/s320/DSC_0087.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228668816336469554" /></a><br /><br />Eze looks old, huh.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpQtA9t9dL5aElFnCxVo68FKC-5bM87wh-IDFmerlm9S2nOkOTbvp1E5dbtDzy2ACwSpN1kC1z8bb-WzXSEYUuHQBthuIjZtr5av2sE54zKgWkiWYInPzkr_uTzWAJ6v1Fls12Q_lSAs/s1600-h/DSC_0090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpQtA9t9dL5aElFnCxVo68FKC-5bM87wh-IDFmerlm9S2nOkOTbvp1E5dbtDzy2ACwSpN1kC1z8bb-WzXSEYUuHQBthuIjZtr5av2sE54zKgWkiWYInPzkr_uTzWAJ6v1Fls12Q_lSAs/s320/DSC_0090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228665773129720722" /></a><br /><br />Flowers growing out of the walls<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKMD-d1_DlBSrrf01Kr8A2ASO_laB468kR4rLLPYZo6u_zdjxlEqNfOKXtPjmKHHO2PQz2OIE5wdxZblXbduC3uphrJglc_F1oeSlrxukKL0URWQ_Dvuey83hoD0YjY9okVMiexNtJ4k/s1600-h/DSC_0092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKMD-d1_DlBSrrf01Kr8A2ASO_laB468kR4rLLPYZo6u_zdjxlEqNfOKXtPjmKHHO2PQz2OIE5wdxZblXbduC3uphrJglc_F1oeSlrxukKL0URWQ_Dvuey83hoD0YjY9okVMiexNtJ4k/s320/DSC_0092.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228662766723278386" /></a><br /><br />Isn't this a beautiful picture?Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-19448163752969537072008-07-29T22:17:00.005-05:002008-08-26T17:21:22.184-05:00Day 3: Nice and Eze, France<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Our ship ported in Monte Carlo, Monaco.... but we weren't in the mood for gambling, so we decided to try out France instead. We also decided to do an excursion on this day.... so we boarded the bus and was on our way to Nice, pronounced like the word niece. Nice was not so nice, it was VERY hot and pretty much a dirty city. We were dropped off near the beach (no sand on the beach, except for some they brought in for a beach volleyball court.) So even the beach wasn't all that nice, just small rocks instead of sand. It was too hot to be interested in shopping... so we just tried to find places to hang out in the shade. Then it was time to load up on the bus, but 4 people we missing. Apparently our guide couldn't count because we left and next thing we knew there were 2 people running toward our bus. About 10 minutes later our guide finally realized that 2 MORE people were missing, so we drove back to the meeting spot and wasted...I mean waited for no one to show up. (We later found out that the 2 women hopped on a different tour bus, thankfully.) Then we were on our way to Eze, pronounced like (eh-z). ** When we first read the 2 towns on the excursion description we thought it was funny to be visiting "nice and easy."** Anyway... Robert and I headed up a very steep hill and then a lot of steps to make it to the quaint town of Eze.<br /><br />We LOVED Eze! It was a beautiful village filled with small shops, stone houses, and terrace restaurants. One thing Eze is known for is is for the production of fragrant perfumes. Lavender brought about the peak of the perfume industry. Now the French Riviera is known as the world capital of the perfume industry. I did manage to buy a bottle of perfume there.... NOT a lavender scented one. I would love to go back to Eze, so if you are taking notes... mark this one down as a place to visit.<br /><br />I'll post some pictures tomorrow.</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-36668242485154461622008-07-29T18:04:00.013-05:002008-07-29T22:14:49.817-05:00Pictures in Barcelona<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOORlM7iMnxV8uOUNbKMS8-gHwCiEAfVrPmf-lQ0Lwp4pg7vOwvqAbNC_vd8C2MNBETSQJ3hKuey-pwPqdEDMW04XG_damrLo_FnvoUO-zZdgJ9CgqD1xOPHKYrJI_PBd4dx_pwO1bNk4/s1600-h/DSC_0259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228600909238539778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOORlM7iMnxV8uOUNbKMS8-gHwCiEAfVrPmf-lQ0Lwp4pg7vOwvqAbNC_vd8C2MNBETSQJ3hKuey-pwPqdEDMW04XG_damrLo_FnvoUO-zZdgJ9CgqD1xOPHKYrJI_PBd4dx_pwO1bNk4/s320/DSC_0259.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#66cccc;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Here we are infront of the Christopher Columbus statue. We're at the Gothic Square. The port where our ship is docked is behind us.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#66cccc;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228582371875732370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAcnC0c3oZ-NBhwp2bijOdDmNoVC-1BMqyJuXfi3CpesIFmcYlsbavxFd2pC6uxJcIOfZpR-7mJVjXJX92Rs97UfX5hBOmfoIRRjdONQwTdsUDSWkhmV3LpaTwtWxjdKMsxHjEMeTWIU/s320/DSC_0080.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="color:#66cccc;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A close-up of the statue.</span> </span></div><span style="color:#66cccc;"></span><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228584355308401554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsitsVf-1WI_ZS6OXXqCjw45d8zE4xSupPxAASK3itnFdCMAdETxeQ27Ty65LTPTYVO4hozAj-pxA3AsK9ctjpbEJx2nT8mUcOR9VFesUtz4m0HSd8x9haWWCxoJIUs9BW3z0R2DPPkU/s320/DSC_0116.JPG" border="0" /><span style="color:#66cccc;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Some of the beautiful arcitecture</span>.</span> <div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228586852457240514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDWe6rmXvWcN-M1irQTYTdtXSkzHZqK2tL1DS_kVxhlDzcoBHpuSCD5zZxONq3NXGUsz_rM5Mq2g7Ed6vBD88adxMM4NVLZ6imH3CIutnuEIOoR1WPVF_Y79qgbed6ttHB-JVx7w1UoI/s320/DSC_0144.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Check out the unusual building in the center. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">This one was one of my favorites.</span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228588886899700978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vMvLGvwBMg6qevvl1iJ_Mz1SsOCrelafL6UteAwA33BNbxs4ZAlL2ZRcVvCARdRXIY1qz6MDguy77K2HfauVnfQ0vZMyIL7e3L0U9mjKBzSvGlJrmhJXKCWUAiR8Y8d9G1BQV7J438Q/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Another interesting building.</span> </div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228590395948397042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpSQ3KHfOlBJz8fPfYX_sNgT7LMJXDXr-AWgBb82pyhaahE3Ig-tpO5zvxEKScOtuovYCCkTao-Ty2O6I6hBFhE1Ftt7UrW4Iov07hbdXPCznT1MarrXwbhIQl-9AgfdLTNCvQogvx7c/s320/DSC_0140.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Down one main street, beautiful lamp posts lined the streets... like you see here.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span> </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228592521848497186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88jQsevpU_lT_Tii29RLeB2L0NWDRBUlQoZaf_oGYTwA1M_ojMdhcuBfmHmbol_TwHE-FMSJvMmeM2EIiiZISVQRxf1VwNS2u03MqNUPbbDCCXfa3lhagqUdBAlD2O3QLqDd4oA0zTqs/s320/DSC_0164.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">This is the Catedral de la Sagrada I mentioned in my previous post. You can see the cranes being used as they continue to build the church.</span></p><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><p align="center"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228595578600883250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBsraxR6csW5vSzngVDAmsbbZ3xNHJlu4UyEvJDjBiLNTp81JQkTRHMAJxTKGuIASS6NxRT2jml-E50Mtq55RR4ckHx9gl16igudJqKzNRwnxOxP-zczEwLYw6VqSGYX88VfWAz7XOw4/s320/DSC_0172.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">A bottom portion of the church. Under the middle arch you can see Jesus on the cross.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228598068662102818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YORDN45fAjihKGrhRur2fA3PYXHGh2mysKb15zT7Q29Cv2nxRkDVnTSSFLTkVsoq4GoYhmR7uEFCoPThBYLHo1SBxeiBVB3xJ4URKC6Nq92r8_WTcqmvic4uzFgZu9tRG_dqMFukM-Q/s320/DSC_0231.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">This is the stadium where the 1992 Olypic games were held.</span></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300537316147827881.post-24601976764004820552008-07-28T23:12:00.002-05:002008-07-29T17:59:48.420-05:00Our Mediterranean CruiseI guess I should begin with what gave us the idea to go on such a wild, long vacation. Back in January, at a New Year's Party, my Kentucky friends and I were talking about what Robert and I were going to do to celebrate him finishing up his forever training to become a doctor. My friend, Daphne, suggested a cruise and proceeded to show me some that were available on the internet. A couple of weeks went by and Robert and I decided to JUST DO IT! We knew it would be a long time (like retirement) before we would ever have a chance to do such a lengthy vacation. We researched and found the one we wanted. So... we called a few friends and my parents up to invite them to come with us and my parents accepted (amazingly.) So.... on June 24th we flew out of Dallas, TX.... to Boston, MA.... to Madrid, Spain.... to Barcelona, Spain and began our European Adventure.<br /><br />**Let me insert this bit of info. here.... We booked this trip BEFORE we sold our house and BEFORE we found a house. So we put a lot of faith in God to help us to sell our house, move in to our new house, and for it to all happen either before or after our vacation. Well... the vacation happened after, but that's a diff. story for a diff. day. Ok.. back to the trip.<br /><br />DAY 1 (June 25th): 20 hours later (flying and lay-overs) we made it to the Barcelona airport. When we got there we found out our luggage didn't make it. We waited 5 hrs and it finally arrived. We were exhausted, so we went straight to the port to check in to the ship... a Holland America Ship called the Zuiderdam. We went straight to the room, took a shower, and fell into bed. We woke up at 9pm (Spain time) and went to eat dinner on the ship and then went back to bed.<br /><br />DAY 2: We didn't book any excursions for Spain, because we weren't sure how tired we would be in having to adjust to an 8hr difference in time zones. Which... turned out to be great since we met a nice man on the airplane who had lived in Barcelona in the past... and he gave us some great advice about what to do in Barcelona. SO... we boarded a shuttle bus from the ship to the Gothic Square. Then we bought tickets to ride a double-decker tour bus. (This is well worth the money if you ever decide to visit.) There were headphones to listen to while you toured Barcelona. We sat up on the top and had a wonderful view. We saw a statue of Christopher Columbus, the famous church... Catedral de la Sagrada Familia (begun in 1882 and still not completed), and the stadium where the 1992 Olympic games were held. The people there were friendly and it helped that Robert could speak spanish. We were amazed at the number of motorcycles and even more surprised at how they would zip between cars driving and whip in and out of lanes. We had to be back on the ship by 3:30pm. That evening was formal night, so we showered and dressed up for dinner and a show.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08082147449422845245noreply@blogger.com2