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Timing is Everything
In Spain it was the bulls. In France it was the bikes. And now in Amsterdam we were lucky enough to stumble on another historic festival.
But it wasn't all mini-briefs and cosmos. This distinctive European city quickly seduced us with its serene canals and historic architecture. My highlight was easily the Vincent Van Gogh museum that houses most of his life's work. We also stopped by Anne Frank's house and a super skinny secret chapel called "Our Dear Lord in the Attic." But our favorite Amsterdam past time was definitely sitting in the window of our 17th century apartment building just watching the canal boats go by below. As the youngsters say, Amsterdam has got it going on.
But it wasn't all mini-briefs and cosmos. This distinctive European city quickly seduced us with its serene canals and historic architecture. My highlight was easily the Vincent Van Gogh museum that houses most of his life's work. We also stopped by Anne Frank's house and a super skinny secret chapel called "Our Dear Lord in the Attic." But our favorite Amsterdam past time was definitely sitting in the window of our 17th century apartment building just watching the canal boats go by below. As the youngsters say, Amsterdam has got it going on.
It’s just nice when someone throws you a party.
Germany is heavy. We might have even burst a seam. It didn’t hurt that our trip to Cologne had the benefit of a small contingency of friends and family. Our Kolsch Posse. They treated us well. A BrauHouse tour through the center (can you put the pictures in order). Big breakfasts that kept us going. Dinners that put pain in your belly and smiles on your face. And jokes that put everyone on the floor.
Venturing out on our own, we did the customary climb to the top of the Dom and spent a day cruising the MittelRhein ¬– a castle every two kilometers. Jumping off in storied towns we delighted on Reisling ice cream-sorbet; the man who made it is pure genius. Wound our way through one of Germany’s great castle ruins, Rheinefels. And yes, ate lots, more.
Der Teufel von jedem war in feiner Form. Danke schoen.
Venturing out on our own, we did the customary climb to the top of the Dom and spent a day cruising the MittelRhein ¬– a castle every two kilometers. Jumping off in storied towns we delighted on Reisling ice cream-sorbet; the man who made it is pure genius. Wound our way through one of Germany’s great castle ruins, Rheinefels. And yes, ate lots, more.
Der Teufel von jedem war in feiner Form. Danke schoen.
Laissez Faire
Paris is an incredible city. You could spend an entire summer there and not see all the cultural sites. (Wait a minute, that’s not a bad idea). But our solemn vow to include at least one cultural event a day kept us busy.
EVENT #01 Picnic Lunch under the Eiffel Tower
EVENT #02 Pablo Picasso Museum
EVENT #03 Ste Chapelle
EVENT #04 Notre Dam Cathedral
EVENT #05 The Louvre and its countless masterpieces
EVENT #06 Picnic Dinner under the Eiffel Tower
EVENT #07 Fine French Cuisine (thanks Leigh!)
EVENT #08 The Catacombs
EVENT #09 Watching the Eiffel Tower illuminate
EVENT #10 Montmartre walking tour
EVENT #11 Tour De France
EVENT #12 Arc De Triomphe
#01
#02 
#03 
#04
#05 
#06 
#07
#08 
#09 
EVENT #01 Picnic Lunch under the Eiffel Tower
EVENT #02 Pablo Picasso Museum
EVENT #03 Ste Chapelle
EVENT #04 Notre Dam Cathedral
EVENT #05 The Louvre and its countless masterpieces
EVENT #06 Picnic Dinner under the Eiffel Tower
EVENT #07 Fine French Cuisine (thanks Leigh!)
EVENT #08 The Catacombs
EVENT #09 Watching the Eiffel Tower illuminate
EVENT #10 Montmartre walking tour
EVENT #11 Tour De France
EVENT #12 Arc De Triomphe
#01
#04
#07
#10 #11
#12
Our favorite nights were those ones spent with our Memphis Aunties, Leigh and Margo. Who were passing though town on holiday. It was great to be with family again.
R&R&R
After the San Fermin blast, we desperately wanted peace and quiet. We found it. In the middle of nowhere France, the owners of a naturally restored farmhouse gave us a very kind break.
It was more room than we needed. And we loved it. It was luxurious enough to remember what the word luxury means. And we loved it. Wildlife was more abundant than human life. Ohhh, we loved it. Turns out you could even catch a rabbit on your way to the silky, saline pool.
Oh sure, there were annoyances, like the cow who wouldn’t take my zucchini, or getting lost in a roadside wonderland of sweet colorful plums, but we took it in a nice slow stride.
A whole week alone with Heather was everything I needed.
It was more room than we needed. And we loved it. It was luxurious enough to remember what the word luxury means. And we loved it. Wildlife was more abundant than human life. Ohhh, we loved it. Turns out you could even catch a rabbit on your way to the silky, saline pool.
Oh sure, there were annoyances, like the cow who wouldn’t take my zucchini, or getting lost in a roadside wonderland of sweet colorful plums, but we took it in a nice slow stride.
A whole week alone with Heather was everything I needed.
Santa Polo Cholos
What can we say? We kicked off Spain right. Found a cute set up in a second home community of the Blanco coast, and spent the next four days grazing at the local markets. They overflowed with the FATTEST produce. Clearly a product of regular siestas under the hot Spanish sun. I could tell you about the peaches, but would end up rambling a little too much, and, well, lets just say it would probably sound pervy. Not as pervy as the bare wangs and teeny speedos at the beach, but the mediterranean water was so inviting and warm, we accepted the aging scenery for what it was.
The late setting sun never failed to paint the entire sky with hot swirls of light as we gazed on from our porch. You gotta love a country that serves up wine from large wooden casks in nearly every store.
The late setting sun never failed to paint the entire sky with hot swirls of light as we gazed on from our porch. You gotta love a country that serves up wine from large wooden casks in nearly every store.
Catch of the Day
I (Heather) have passionately hated olives all my life. And then I met Essouira. The beautiful mounds of kicked up locally grown green, purple and black olives changed my life and I will never be the same.
Add that to an 18th century, fortified town painted blue and white with exotic patterned tiles, seagulls calling overhead, a cool breeze blowing through your hair, the intoxicating smells of tangine always simmering somewhere and you've got the perfect chill out spot. Not to mention the perfect place to celebrate a girl's 28th birthday. Jeff and I spent our days hanging out in spice shops with locals and the evenings in our room that looked out into the sea, perfectly framing the sunset. I love my life.
After a week in Essaouira we traveled to Casablanca, Chefchaouen, and north to Morocco's Mediterranean Coast at Al Hoceima, which brewed the trip's best glass of coffee to date. After a week there we jumped a ferry to our next conquest - Spain.
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