Goodbye 2015... Hello 2016!

Wow! Can you believe it? Another year has come and gone.

2015 went by so quickly. I remember hearing my parents and adults say "time flies!" when I was younger, and now it amazes me how quickly time actually does fly by. I never realized it when most of my days consisted of waking up, going to school, coming home from school, going to bed, step and repeat. Because days were so similar and I wasn't really thinking about future plans, it seemed the years went by at the speed they should. But now, I plan a trip for us a few months in advance, and then it feels like I wake up and go, "Woah! The trip is here. Where did those months go?"

This year, we are spending New Year's with some friends in our flat. We'll be drinking caipirinhas from Brazil, port from Portugal, Fireball from 'Merica, and really gross schnapps from Vienna but it came in a cool violin bottle- we've got to get rid of it somehow!

Time is flying by, but 2015 was such an amazing year. And I have a feeling that 2016 will be even better : )

Finally Swinging Away: Golf in the UK

Until last weekend, there was one thing left from everything that we shipped over that we still hadn't used quite yet...

Our golf clubs.

Yes, Aaron and I shipped our clubs over, and then after moving here, realized we clearly didn't plan things very well: no car, terrible UK weather, and living in the middle of a city (yeah, I'm sure there will be a golf course right next to Westminster Abbey...)

But Christmas time gave me a good excuse to do some research, and I found a course that was only a 35 minute bus ride and short walk away. Last Sunday, we headed out to play a round of 9 holes, all par 3. It wasn't the most exciting course, but after I'd gone 2.5 years without swinging a club, it was really fun! Afterwards, we went to the driving range and then got a beer.

A successful golf outing, even if it was in UK weather!

Our Christmas in London

This year, Aaron and I decided to spend Christmas - just the two of us - in London. It was very different from how we normally spend the holiday, but very memorable.

On Christmas eve, we headed out to catch the carol service at St. Paul's, a massive church in the heart of London. We knew there was a minimal chance we'd get to attend the service inside, but our friends went last year and said they broadcast the service on a large screen in the square next door. Unfortunately when we arrived, the line to get into the church was wrapped half way around the building and they were not broadcasting it in a second location this year.

So we thought up a new plan and headed to the Charles Dickens museum located in one of his former homes. I had read they were doing "A Very Dickensian Christmas Eve" with a few things to celebrate the day. That was an understatement. Every room in the house had actors and actresses re-enacting scenes from Dickens' infamous novel, A Christmas Carol. We learned how to make Christmas pudding in the kitchen; spoke with a grave digger who was putting dirt on Scrooge's grave; sang carols and played games in the sitting room with Scrooges' nephews and nieces; and more. Charles Dickens loved Christmas, so naturally, the house was adorned in decorations. A Christmas Carol was published by Dickens himself and to this day it has never gone out of print. The story popularized many of the Christmas traditions we have today.

After the museum, we headed over to Winter Wonderland where we rode an amusement ride (it went so high up that it was actually really scary!), Aaron won me a little snowman by knocking coconuts off of jars, and we met some friends for a few pints and festive music.

On Christmas morning, we opened our stockings and gifts. Then we headed over to a friends house for some merriment. December 25th is the only day that public transportation in London shuts down so the roads are extremely quiet. Aaron and I ended up biking to our friend's house which was actually fun because the streets were empty! We hung out there for a while and then headed back for a lobster dinner at our place and some pumpkin pie. More friends came over to our place and we played games late into the night.

We hope that your Christmas was memorable as well!

A British Christmas Tradition: The Pantomime

Men dressing up as women, crowd interaction and disguised adult humor sprinkled in between family fun. This is what makes up one of Britain's favorite Christmas traditions: the pantomime. Also called a panto, it is a musical or show with slapstick comedy that is entertaining for kids.

Pantomimes are a big thing in the UK. Almost all the theaters have them and parents take their kids to them in the month leading up to Christmas. I learned about it from my coworkers who told me that Aaron and I just had to go!

So on Wednesday evening, we went and saw Cinderella at a theater nearby. It wasn't exactly the Cinderella story you know- it was modernized and localized, with Cinderella first meeting Prince Charming on the banks of the River Thames while fishing. While there, he gives her crabs (hehe). The ugly step sisters, Booty and Licious, are actually men playing women (picture here). The cast sings modernized songs like "Panto Funk" (instead of Uptown Funk). In response to the fact that Cinderella might not get to go to the Ball, her friends sing to her that you can get very far in life without balls ; ) Even Cinderella's glass slipper is replaced by a glittery Converse sneaker.

I really enjoyed it and can see why it is so popular here. The performers asked us to participate in some parts of the show, they threw candy out into the crowd and my personal favorite was at the end, the fairy godmother made it snow inside the theater : ) Since it's 50 degrees in London right now, it looks like that's as close to a white Christmas as we are going to get!

A Meal for your Senses: Dining in the Dark

Imagine yourself sitting at a restaurant. You choose from one of four surprise menus: Chef's choice, seafood, meat or vegetarian. The waiter brings a surprise wine. Then your meal is set in front of you. The catch is that you can't see it. You can't see anything. You're literally dining in complete darkness.

How do you know when to stop pouring your wine? How do you use your knife and fork? What do you do if you can't make any visual first assumptions about what you're eating?

There's one restaurant in London that's based on this concept: dining in the dark. The owner is blind and opened it to show other people what he experiences while dining every day. All the waiters are also blind. Aaron and I went for dinner last night and it was a really eye-opening ... or eye-closing... experience.

First, we 'conga-lined' into the dark room with our waiter. We could hear other conversations in the restaurant but couldn't see anyone else or where the tables were. Our waiter helped us into the chair and then described what was on the table. Two glasses - one large for water, one small for wine - a napkin, fork and knife, and bread basket. He recommended that we pour our wine or water with one finger in the glass so we could feel when it was getting full.

As he set things down, he would tell us where they were or what shape the plate was. Aaron chose the meat menu; I chose the chef's choice. It was weird to have to rely on all your other senses besides sight. Aaron actually ate his meal with his knife and fork, but I ate with my hands - nobody could see me!

It was also really interesting to have conversations with people you've never met in the dark. We sat next to a nice couple - it was the guy's birthday - and we ended up talking with them the whole night. At the end of the dinner, we left the darkness and went to the bar together for a night cap. And there the waiters revealed what we had eaten.

Aaron and I both had some weird dishes, but we actually thought they were really good. I won't give it away, but again, I can't believe how delicious it was! Would we have eaten it had we known and been able to see it? Maybe not. But that's part of the experience of dining in the dark!

Good Old Fashioned Football... The American Kind

I've mentioned that Aaron is in a American flag football league on Wednesday nights. He's now been in it for a few seasons and he loves it. He's gotten to know not only the players on his team but also the guys that he's playing against. And a few months back, he was invited by one of them to play some pick up games in Hyde Park on Sundays.

Flash forward to this Sunday when there was ...a co-ed game. Yes, everybody who is gasping right now, I played football. Aaron asked me to play, and to be honest, I was dreading it. I've never played an actual game before only thrown the ball around in a park with Aaron.

But to my surprise, it was actually ...fun. Yes, I hear you gasping again : ) We played 5 vs 5, and Aaron and I were on the same team. I hurt my finger warming up (laugh all you want) but then in the game, I did pretty well. I caught 3 of 5 passes to me- one being a deep over the shoulder grab near the end zone that looked really cool but unfortunately, my flag got pulled shortly thereafter so I never made it haha. Aaron was stellar as always- he had a touchdown where he stiff-armed his defender with one hand and reached the ball into the end zone with the other. He makes it look so easy!

Playing football also made me appreciate and understand the plays and runs in games more. Our quarterback would tell us all which routes to run and explain to me why he was having me run that route (clearing out an area in the field or using another player to block my coverage, etc).

We ended the game just as the London rain started to pour, and we ran back to the tube slightly muddy after winning 8-7!

Tis the Season for Christmas Markets

It's my favorite time of the year which means Christmas markets in London!

Before we went on our three week trip, we visited Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. I've written about it in the past, but it is basically an adult Christmas-themed amusement park. They have rides, an ice-skating rink, cute wooden pop up stands selling crafts, food and drinks, and different themed-bars such as a German beer hall, Alpine ski lodge, and carousel bar that rotates around.

Yesterday we went to another Christmas Market located on the Southbank of the river Thames. They had a cider lodge, music and different wooden pop up stands selling mulled wine, beer, food and crafts.

Then afterwards, we walked to Somerset House, a Tudor palace built in 1547. They have a huge ice skating rink this time of year so we people-watched and drank festive drinks. As fun as it is to ice skate, it's actually much more entertaining to watch other people ice skate : ) It's like real-life America's Funniest Home Videos!

Whenever we go to the markets, I have glühwein also known as mulled wine. I love it so I thought I'd share my favorite recipe with you below!

Mmm Mmmulled Wine : )

1 bottle of red wine
1/4 cup sugar
2 sticks of cinnamon
1 orange (need the peel in large strips and juice)
Pinch of nutmeg
4 whole cloves

Put everything except for the wine in a saucepan over medium heat (including whole cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peel). Pour 1/2 cup wine over the ingredients. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Add the remaining wine and simmer for 5 more minutes. Strain and pour into mugs. Serve hot and enjoy your Christmas-in-a-glass drink!

Seattle - Denver - Mazatlan... Now, Finally Home

Tonight we finally arrived back home in London after a packed three weeks!

Our first stop was Seattle. We spent Thanksgiving with family, met our new niece when she was just a few weeks old, and got to be there for our nephew's first birthday. In between Aaron working and other home commitments, we also managed to spend some time friends and family.

Next up was Seattle. I headed a day earlier to spend time with my college friend, Lindsay, who I hadn't seen since our wedding! Then we were off to Boulder for a wedding- one of Aaron's college friends. It was a chilly but sunny gorgeous outdoor ceremony followed by drinks and dancing inside.

Afterwards we headed to sunny Mazatlan for a week! We spent it with friends, sipping drinks by the pool, taking a Catamaran ride to a secluded beach for some snorkeling and lots of eating and drinking since it was an all-inclusive.

Now we are finally home, but unfortunately, our bags are not. They decided to stay in the sun! Crossing our fingers that they arrive tomorrow because after three weeks of traveling, it's safe to say we have some laundry to do : )

A Scary Evening

First off, we are safe. But anytime you need to start off with this is not a good sign.

Tonight we had our dodgeball game. We won and went out with our team for celebratory pints at a nearby pub. We'd been there for about 20 minutes and were drinking when we noticed an increased police presence inside and around the pub. We thought they were looking for someone until the bartender came up and asked us to leave because there was a bomb threat nearby.

We immediately evacuated and found an alternate route home as our normal transportation methods weren't options. There was a large area around the pub cordoned off, and traffic and people around the area had to be diverted. Apparently there is an abandoned car across from the tube station (and the pub we were at). but reports are still a little bit unclear.

It was scary, but luckily it sounds like that's all it was, thankfully.

The Lord Mayor's Show Goes On

For the past few days, London landmarks have been lit up in blue, white and red to show solidarity with France. The terrorist attacks that occurred on Friday were horrifying. There are no words to describe how disgusting and inhumane the actions that took place were, and no emotion that can adequately sum up what the families and friends who lost their loved ones are now feeling.

On Saturday, the Lord Mayor's Show took place in London. It was the 800th anniversary of the parade which marks the new appointment of the Lord Mayor (different from the Mayor of London), and is supposed to be a carnival-like celebration. The mood was much more somber. Flags were at half mast and fireworks were cancelled. The show still went ahead but there was a two-minute silence before it began.

Originally, the show was on the River Thames which is where the word 'float' comes from when used in the context of parades. Today the procession is 3 miles long through the city of London. There were all kinds of floats: British military, non-profits, schools, businesses and more. A few of our favorites were Santa's sleigh (with two real reindeer), a robot made out of recycling containers, an old steam engine, a giant pig balloon, four wheelers doing wheelies, and giant meat balloon (from butchers of London).

The floats were creative and entertaining, but the one thing on everyone's mind was the attacks in Paris. In such difficult times, there is hope in the outpouring of support and solidarity. But it always seems that two minutes is just not long enough.

Meet Caroline Christine Wham

Last week, our beautiful, little niece was born!



Caroline Christine was born last Saturday at 3:22am PST... and we were up for it thanks to the time zone difference! I was just about to get on a 12 hour flight to Brazil and was worried I wouldn't get to see her. Luckily, she made her appearance early enough for a quick Facetime with her Auntie and Uncle in London. She was 6 pounds and 14 ounces- so precious!

We are thrilled for Jake and Katie, and incredibly excited to be Auntie Ashley and Uncle Aaron to another little one : ) In exactly one week, we will be home to meet our new niece! And as the British say, I can't wait to give her lots of cuddles!!

Christmas has Arrived with the Annual Oxford Street Lighting

With Halloween now over and no Thanksgiving celebrations in sight, Christmas has officially arrived in London. The air seems colder, storefront windows and shop displays have changed, and lights are going up everywhere.

On Sunday, we decided to brave the crowds with our Seattle friends and get in the festive spirit by heading to the annual Christmas lighting of Oxford Street. Every year the busiest shopping street in London is transformed into a twinkling spectacle of holiday cheer. The road was closed for the event, but it didn't make Oxford Street any less busy!

The evening featured Kylie Minogue, who sang a few songs and then did the honorary 'flipping the switch' for the lights. We ended up finding a spot near the stage that was set in the middle of the road, but as the time got nearer to the concert, the crowd organizers came in and cleared out the area we were in. We were pushed past the stage so we couldn't see it, but we didn't mind because we weren't there for Kylie. The whole event started 20 minutes late, so after an hour and a half of standing around, they finally turned on the lights (before and after pics below).

Let's just say our experience at the Oxford Street Christmas lighting was a bit of a bust. It's not very often that I our activities are but this one definitely was. The organization was terrible (this coming from an event planner) and the lights were a little underwhelming, but... it still made me very excited for Christmas!!

As a side note, Aaron's in Germany this evening for work, and I'm gearing up to head to Brazil next week for work. Then we are headed home for Thanksgiving... get excited!

Trick and Treat... A Happy Halloween!

During this time of year, we are often asked, "Is Halloween celebrated over there?"

In short, yes, but it is definitely less popular, and the costumes are more focused on being scary. Over here, Halloween isn't a night where you can wear any costume- it needs to be scary. Tonight we had about 15 different groups of trick-or-treaters and most of them were dressed as villains from horror movies or witches. Also, not many houses welcome trick-or-treaters so you have to put a pumpkin in front of your door to signal that you want them to stop at your house.

Naturally, we were all about having them stop by : ) I feel like it's my duty to give out candy to kids in costumes because of all the years growing up that people gave out candy to me! Aaron and I carved four pumpkins to put in front of our house this year. The first one that I carved ended up rotting too quickly so we only had three outside, but they turned out pretty good. We roasted the pumpkin seeds too which is definitely one of the best parts!

The first trick-or-treater we received was interesting... I was really excited and had the candy all ready to go. There was a knock at the door and I ran down the stairs. I opened it up and there was a large grown man with a garbage bag saying "Trick-or-treat. I'd like some money." I was completely taken by surprise and began saying, "No, sorry" in between him repeatedly asking me for money. Then he put his hand on our door to hold it open, looked at the candy bowl I was holding and said "Ok, I'll take that." I got really freaked out and started to close it saying, "No, sorry. It's for the kids." He was more trick than treat...

A little shaken up at the start, but after that weird experience, the rest of our night was just like in the US but a lot less busy! And everything was made up by this very unique letter we received at the end of the night from a friendly neighbor complimenting us on our "wonderful, immaculately carved pumpkin heads!"

I love our neighborhood : ) Happy Halloween from the Newlyweds Abroad!!

A Weekend in the Scottish Countryside

16 people staying at one house for four days in the middle of nowhere: this was our Scottish countryside trip.

Thursday after work Aaron and I flew up to Glasgow. We arrived and took a cab 45 minutes north to an address near Loch Lomond. While on the way, our driver said "there's some beautiful mansions up here that you can rent that have like four bedrooms." Well, when we pulled up to our place, needless to say he was shocked- try nine bedrooms. Our mansion also had an indoor pool and pool table.

So how did we have this amazing place to ourselves? Unfortunately, the owner isn't a friend of a friend. We rented it with 11 of Aaron's coworkers and three other friends. Over the four days, we took turns cooking meals and making drinks only leaving to venture out to a whisky distillery and go for a walk around Lake Lomond.

Some highlights from the weekend included:

• One taxi that dropped the last person off got stuck! The driver thought the walking path to the gazebo was the driveway and instead of reversing like a logical person, he tried to turn around on the muddy grass. He got stuck and tried to drive out of that for 30 minutes before coming to get us to help, so by the time we came his wheels were stuck in the grass deep. We all pushed and tried to lift the car for about an hour before deciding he needed to call a tow truck... and the house has CCTV so the owner saw the whole thing
  
• We played a lot of games... Mafia, beam flash, pool, Jenga, games in the pool, etc. Of course, games are right up Aaron's and my alley : )
  
• On Friday we went to a whisky distillery, Glengoyne. We had an amazing tour and drank some really nice whisky! Our tour guide was also wearing some classic Scottish tartan pants/trousers.
  
• Our driver, Jerry Berry, was hilarious. Aaron learned a lot of new inappropriate jokes which he immediately called his dad and told when we got home.
  
• Saturday we went for a walk to Lake Lomond with half the group. We had to hike a ways in the mud (thank goodness for waders!) and cross a sketchy bridge but then we finally made it and it was beautiful. We saw so many rainbows because it would lightly rain for a second and then the sun would appear. Typical Scottish weather! We walked around the lake on a nature trail and then went inland to find a pub. The closest thing we found was a restaurant/shop so we stopped in for a pint. Funny enough a short while later two members of our group who hadn't been on the walk peered through the window to the table we were sitting at coincidentally! This was about a 45 minute walk from the house so the timing was crazy. We all had a pint and then walked the treacherous way back to the house (no pathway and narrow roads with fast drivers... yikes!)
  
• Saturday night dance party. No description needed : ) but we had to finish all the food and drinks before we left!

A fun weekend away with a great group of friends!

Sister, Sister: Total Craziness at Bogan Bingo and More

It's been a long time coming, but it finally happened - my little sister and her boyfriend, Jimmy, came to visit us!

They arrived from Paris last Thursday on the train after traveling from the south of France. I met them at our flat and then we went to meet Aaron at one of the most amazing nights out in London... Bogan Bingo!

We stumbled upon Bogan Bingo last year when we had visitors. We walked into one of our local pubs and there were all these people playing a game having an amazing time. Once the game was finished, the pub turned into a giant dance party. Aaron and I knew at that moment that we needed to come back... but it needed to be a time when we did not have to work on Friday. With my sister and Jimmy visiting, this was the perfect opportunity. I am happy to report that Bogan Bingo lived up to it's expectations and more : )

A Bogan is a slang word for an Australian with bad taste; they stereotypically have poor teeth, love classic rock, drink too much and have home-made tattoos. There are two Bogan hosts (who are hilarious but completely inappropriate), about 70 other people and two bingo games. Unfortunately we didn't win the bingo, but I did get a free drink because I knew the theme song to Family Matters... Am I showing my age? : ) Between the inappropriate jokes, crazy competitors showing it all and WKDs, it was the best night!

On Friday we had breakfast at our flat before heading to Harrods and Selfridges. We walked through the city and then met up with Lacey's coworkers who work in her London office. We had a few pints with them and then went to dinner at a delicious dumpling place in Soho before grabbing a nightcap at one of our favorite speakeasys, Evans & Peel Detective Agency. You actually have to come up with a background story for why you are there (some type of mystery, murder or case for them to solve). It's legit.

Saturday we got lunch near our flat and then did a little shopping on Regent Street. We took them to our favorite wine bar, Gordon's and then headed up to Rickmansworth, which is about 45 minutes out of the city. Jimmy actually grew up in London and that is where he used to live! We had dinner at his favorite Indian restaurant and went to one of the local pubs for a few pints before heading back to Fulham. On the cab ride home, somebody got a little desperate after two many beers so we had to have a bathroom break at an ale house on the way which turned into one more pint : )

On Sunday morning, they left and headed back to Seattle. It was a short trip, but we had so much fun with them! As I was talking with Lacey on the phone this week, she asked "Where are you in your flat?" Our place isn't that big, Lac! But now she knows : )

Two Years in London

Today marks two years since we arrived in London. When we moved over, we said that we were going to travel once a month in Europe and once a month in the UK. We've stayed pretty true to that, and now it's hard to believe all the places we've travelled to and things we've done since we've been here.

I think Katie said it best when she said that sometimes it feels like it's been 20 years and other times it feels as if it's only been two weeks. We've made so many memories here, but sometimes it still feels like we are two newlyweds back in the San Francisco airport with our eight bags about to board our one-way flight.

We didn't know what was in store for us. We had a few guesses, but there were so many unknowns. We had a two year contract and at the time 2015 felt so far away, which is why I find it very appropriate that today is 'Back to the Future' day also...

Great Scott! We've finally arrived : )

"It was Autumn Time in Northern Michigan..."

The lyrics of that song actually say "Summer Time" but this past weekend Aaron and I were in Northern Michigan for a wedding. And it definitely wasn't summer!

We flew on Thursday from London to Chicago to Traverse City, and then rented a car and drove about an hour to Bellaire, Michigan (no Fresh Prince in sight). We arrived pretty late and were both hungry after the 16 hour journey. Naturally, we had American pizza and ice cold craft beers... and it was delicious! Afterwards, we met up with Aaron's friends from college including the bride and the groom. Aaron is fraternity brothers with the groom: he was in our wedding and now Aaron was in his!

Friday we decided to do some exploring. We headed into downtown Bellaire for lunch which is a one street town where everybody knows your name (or I assume so?). We stopped by a disappointing market and then drove to a nearby winery called Torch Lake Cellars. It was beautiful! The tasting room was built by the family that owns the winery and from the second floor you can lookout over the vineyards and nearby lake. They make cherry and raspberry wines, ciders, an amazing Pinot Grigio and a few others.

Afterwards, we drove around exploring. There are lots of lake scattered around the area, so we drove the roads that wrap around them. We ended up in Charlevoix, another town nearby, which was having an apple festival. There were huge barrels filled to the brim with types of apples that I never even knew existed, fresh squeezed cider, apple cider donuts, and vendors selling everything from wood carvings to cheese boards to jewelry and clothing. The town has a small harbor in front so it's really scenic also.

Eventually, we headed back to get ready for the rehearsal dinner which was at a kid's summer camp near the resort we were staying at. The rehearsal was really fun, and it ended up continuing at a bar nearby where we played Pop a Shot and Big Buck Hunter : )

The next morning, we went to a wedding brunch and then Aaron had to go do groomsmen duties. I hung out with two girls who's husband and fiancé were also in the wedding. We went to Glacial Hills which is this beautiful forested area that has tons of trails. We went for a walk and run in the woods, and it was one of the most gorgeous settings I've ever been in. Actually, now is a good time to tell you just how picturesque Northern Michigan was at this time. All the leaves were just starting to change so there were vibrant reds, yellows and purples mixed in with the different shades of greens.

The wedding was at a house that overlooked one of the lakes. The ceremony was on the lawn in front and then the reception took place inside a tent. We had a fantastic night and had so much fun with all of Aaron's fraternity brothers. It's been since our wedding that we've seen all of them so it was fun to catch up and see everyone.

Sunday we flew back to London. It was a quick trip, but well worth the journey!

Birthday Celebration at the Sir John Soane Museum

Tuesday was my birthday : ) It's the second birthday that I've celebrated while living in London.

My coworkers surprised me with a cake, card and gift. It's a nice tradition in my office that on birthdays everyone contributes a little money and signs a card. Then in the afternoon, we gather around the person's desk and sing happy birthday to them.

After work, Aaron and I headed to the Sir John Soane's Museum. Every first Tuesday of the month they open it up in the evenings and the museum is lit by candlelight. I've been wanting to go for a while now, but only 200 people get in and it's a popular event. People queue about an hour before you're allowed in and you have to be there in person to get the ticket.  Unfortunately, Aaron usually doesn't get done with work early enough to make it in time. But on my birthday, he couldn't say no : )

Sir John Soane was an English architect. His most famous work was the Bank of England but his home also received a lot of attention for his unique collection of art and antiques. Now the home has been converted into a museum in the heart of London and is exactly the way Sir John left it.

There were a couple of levels to the strange house. The bottom floor actually looked like a crypt and was a bit eerie. The middle floor had a room that was covered in paintings. Once inside, you can open the walls to reveal more paintings and more paintings almost like a secret hiding place. That was the coolest part about the visit. You could walk by the room and never know!

After the museum, we went to a neighborhood French restaurant. The owner was incredibly nice, food was delicious and the entire place sang me happy birthday (even the other customers in the restaurant!)

28 was a fantastic year and I can't wait to see what 29 has in store!

Visiting the Eiffel Tower and Louvre All Before Noon in Paris

I'm having trouble keeping up with posting after all we are doing!!

This past weekend my dad and Marie were here for a very quick trip. They flew in on Thursday and out on Monday, but we managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Paris... booked last minute on Thursday! We just went to Paris for one night but for a two day trip, we did Paris right.

We took the Chunnel on Saturday morning. There's been a big problem with refugees and migrants camped out at the tunnel entrance in France trying to sneak into the UK by walking through the tunnel at night. Our train was delayed by about 45 minutes because of reports of people walking on the tracks. It's quite sad actually because the tunnel is so dark and long that it's highly likely you will be killed if you attempt to make the dangerous trek.

Once we arrived to Paris, we dropped our bags off at the hotel and headed to the river. We walked along the Seine and then over to Notre Dame where we boarded a river boat that cruised around. We had to wait for a while to get on but it was a gorgeous day.

As night settled in, we started to think about dinner. I was growing a bit hangry so Aaron googled "best areas for restaurants in Paris". Something came up so we hopped in a cab and off we went!

The main street the cab took us to was packed. Aaron spotted a side street that looked quaint and we stumbled upon a restaurant that was made to look like a French ski lodge. It was amazing!! The owner was incredibly nice, food was delicious and atmosphere was inviting. I had raclette which I had never had before- it's similar to fondue but is a specific type of cheese that is thinly cut. You melt the cheese on a skillet board over open flames and then once it's bubbling and melted, you lift the board on one side so the gooey deliciousness slides down onto your plate of veggies and meat. YUM!

After dinner we took a taxi ride to an area that has an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower at night and then around the Arc de Triomphe before retiring back to the hotel for some rest.

The next morning, we woke early and headed to the Eiffel Tower. It opens at 9:30 and we got there at about 8:40. There was already a line, so we divided up: two people stood and waited while two others got coffee and croissants at a nearby bakery. The woman at the bakery very clearly hated tourists/Americans because she was stereotypically rude but the croissants were stereotypically delicious. Go figure.

We made our way up to the top of the Eiffel Tower almost immediately after it opened. This was definitely the way to see it because we beat the crowds and for the first 10 minutes at the top, it was actually peaceful... until all the other tourists arrived!

After that, we made our way to the Louvre. We've been to Paris once before since we moved but weren't able to do the Eiffel Tower or Louvre because the lines to get in were so long! Once we knew we were going to Paris, I tried looking up "how to see the Louvre", etc so when we got there and the line at the Pyramid was 2 hours long, I remembered I had read about another secret entrance. We went to another entrance in the mall and the line was 1.5 hours long there, but I wasn't convinced that was the entrance I had read about. Aaron began researching and we soon stumbled upon an amazing secret Lion entrance - no waiting, no line - immediately we got inside the Louvre. And on the first Sunday of each month, the museum is free... so our entrance was free! We timed that one pretty well. We saw the Mona Lisa and went to the top of the Eiffel Tower all before noon- now that's pretty cool.

After the Louvre, we made our way to the train station and then headed back to London. We both agreed this was our best experience in Paris. If you're going to do Paris, this is the way to do it!

Familiar Faces in Historical Places: A Visit to Copenhagen

Our weekend in Copenhagen was short, but eventful!

Friday evening after my conference, I went to dinner with a coworker and then Aaron and Yacine met us out in the Meatpacking District. The area was mainly butchers and empty warehouses until about 15 years ago, when the city began developing the area. Now, it is filled with trendy restaurants and swanky clubs. Late at night, drinkers spill out of the darkened bars.

Saturday we made a quick stop for breakfast and then joined a free walking tour of the city. We've found that walking tours are a great way to introduce the city history, familiarize yourself with the neighborhoods and learn some interesting facts like: the highest point in Copenhagen is 19 meters above sea level; Denmark was trading partners with the French during the Napoleonic Wars so the British bombed and destroyed a lot of the city; Denmark has the oldest reigning monarchy in the world which dates from the ninth century; King Christian IV "spent all the money, drank all the wine and slept with all the women"! He was responsible for many of the beautiful and lavish buildings that make up the city today, but he also basically made the country go broke and had at least 24 children.

After the walking tour, we rushed to do a canal cruise. We toured through Nyhavn (the picturesque, colorful street next to the canal),  Christiania (a free town, 'hippie' commune within the city),  the Copenhagen Opera House (one of the most expensive opera houses ever built), and the popular little mermaid statue (which pays homage to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, but is actually quite small!).

Following the cruise, we tried to go to Rosenborg Palace which houses the Crown Jewels. Unfortunately, we arrived only a half hour before it closed, so we didn't go inside but walked around the magnificent grounds. Then we headed back to picturesque Nyhavn for a few pints of my new favorite beer, Tuborg Classic... it is delicious!

We had a few more pints at a hole-in-the-wall, local pub and then went for dinner at a restaurant called Tight. A few of my coworkers had gone there for dinner the weekend before and said that it was delicious. It was a great recommendation. Afterwards, we said goodnight and bye to Yacine since he had to leave really early the next day.

Something I haven't mentioned is that my sister, Chelsey, studied abroad in Copenhagen when she was in college. I came to visit her and stayed with her host family while she was there, and her host family came to Seattle and stayed with us for a week. It's been almost 10 years since I've seen them, so we made plans to meet up for brunch. We walked around Parliament and then went to brunch at the National Museum of Denmark. It was so good to see them and catch up... I just can't believe it's been so long!

Work, Work, Work... in Copenhagen

If I'm going to have a crazy week of work, at least it's in a cool International destination like Copenhagen : )

Last week, my big conference kicked off. You may remember I went to Budapest last year for it. Well, this year it was in Copenhagen. It was two days of set up, three days of the actual conference, and 2,000 delegates.

Being onsite is one of the most difficult but rewarding experiences of my work. There are long days with lots of running around and problem solving, but the people I work with- my colleagues and vendors- make it all worth it.

By the end of the week, my feet were sore and I was exhausted... but there's no time to rest for the avid traveller since that Friday night, Aaron and Yacine flew to Copenhagen to meet me! More to come about the touristy part of the trip...

A Day of Exploring at Open House London

This weekend was Open House London. For two days, over 700 buildings in London are on show to the public for free, most of which the public does not normally have access to. Some of the buildings have guided tours, while others you can just wander freely through. But they all have some sort of compelling reason to visit: whether the building is historical; designed with a greener city in mind; showcases how the city or transportation works; or displays shared community spaces or better work and home design.

Last Wednesday after dodgeball, I was talking to Aaron's coworker who is really into architecture and building design. He brought up that he was going to the Open House this weekend, and then suggested some buildings to check out.

Aaron, Yacine and I made it to a few places on Saturday. We tried to go to the Bank of London, but unfortunately there are only 500 people that get in, and when we arrived at 10:30am (it opens at 9:30am) all the slots were filled! Popular visiting spot : )

Here are the ones that we did get to see:

• Guildhall - Built between 1411 and 1440, the building consists of a Great Hall, an old library and a crypt (in the basement below). The hall housed some famous trials including Lady Jane Grey and Guy Fawkes' accomplice in the gunpowder plot that almost blew up Parliament.
  
• Lloyd's Registry Group - a building designed to make the best use of the space available with minimum impact on the 1901 Colcutt building it's built around and the surrounding streets. The new part of the building is entirely glass. But the 1901 part which is what we walked through has an old reception hall and general committee room.
  
• HM Treasury - Her Majesty's Treasury is the department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy. The building was constructed in the early 1900s.
  
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office - this is the department responsible for protecting and promoting British interests worldwide. The building was built in the 1860s. The coolest part about this is that we were walking through the courtyard and a woman approached asking if we'd like a brochure. Then she asked if we wanted to see something really neat so she told us to look closer through a gate, and we saw the door of 10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister (David Cameron) works and lives. Unfortunately, there were no pictures allowed, but this was by far the coolest part of the day!

Perogies, Vodka and the Salt Mines in Kraków

On our first trip while living abroad, Aaron and I flew out of an airport called Stansted. It took forever to get to and wasn't the best experience, so we vowed never to fly out of that airport again. Then after our trip to New York last year when we had to go straight from the airport to work, we were exhausted and said we would never do that again.

Never say never because last weekend, we did both of those - fly out of Stansted on early Saturday morning, and then back to London early Monday morning only to go straight to work that day. But there are some things that make a trip like that worth it. And seeing the Bednarczyk's in Poland is one of them!

We had such a fun time in Kraków, and it was a really cool city. Marcin is Polish so it was refreshing having someone who spoke the language like a local. The trip also had a perfect start when we were greeted at the airport by our driver holding a "WHAM!" sign : ) I just had to document it, so there is a picture on the right.

We arrived mid-day and headed off to find perogies for lunch. They are delicious Polish dumplings stuffed with meat or cheese and potato - yum! Then we walked around the city - through the square, by the castle and in a park where we saw two hilarious things: the first was a cat on a leash (really?!) and the next was two Polish children who were terrorizing pigeons by literally picking them up and holding onto them by their tails while they tried to fly away. We could not stop laughing because we just kept thinking, is this really happening?! After we regained our composure, we headed to the Jewish quarter where we went to an outdoor beer garden. It helped that the beers were £2... everything in Poland is so cheap compared to London, which is another reason why we loved it!

Afterwards, we headed to a vodka tasting where we tried the following vodkas: 140 proof (aka rubbing alcohol), cherry-infused (tasted like cough syrup), Krupnik or honey vodka (delicious!), and lemon vodka (I could drink it all day... no chaser needed)!

We had dinner at this hole-in-the-wall restaurant that was a recommendation from Aaron's Polish coworker and was really hard to find: you walked through a museum and then went down a staircase that opened into a room with lots of long, wooden tables. The restaurant name is U Babci Maliny which translates to Grandma's Raspberries or something like that, but it felt like there was a little Polish grandma in the back cooking the food. We tapped off the night with a Tap house and some handstands (or attempts) before calling it a night.

The next morning, we headed out to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, about 30 minutes outside of the city. Discovered in the 13th century, the salt mines were one of the very first Unesco World Heritage Sites. It's referred to as "the underground salt cathedral" because the miners built statues, chapels, and chandelier's whose crystals are rock salt. You first go down 378 steps (210 feet) and then walk through different chambers with a guide. There's incredible artwork like a replica of Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' that was carved in salt stone.

On our way back to the city, we got off a stop early and went to the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków which is housed in Oskar Schindler's enamel factory (made famous through Schindler's List). The museum was very informative, but we were a little disappointed by the lack of focus on the Schindler story itself. It was briefly mentioned, but the main focus of the museum was the city during and after the war. Still, it was well set-up and powerful.

We headed back to our flat, stopping to get some delicious street-food for dinner on the way: zapiekanka which is an open-faced baguette with grilled mushrooms, melted cheese, other toppings and ketchup. The Seahawks season opener was on, so we watched the unfortunate outcome, and then went to bed. After all, we had to get up at 5:00am the next day, but the trip was very much worth it! : )

Exploring and Drinking Pints Along the Thames River

I'm always impressed when our visitors land at 3pm and can stay awake until a decent bedtime hour. But our recent visitor, put everyone to shame: My Uncle Bob visited us this past weekend and landed at 7am. He stayed up until 11pm... and we were drinking! Now that's impressive.

He arrived early Saturday morning, so we headed to Borough Market, one of our favorite weekend spots. We didn't stay there for very long, as we ended up stopping to eat at one of our favorite Greek restaurants.

Once we finished with lunch, we decided to walk along the Thames River. It wasn't that nice out, but we got beers along the way to keep us warm and passed by all the usual London sights: Shakespeare's Globe, Southwark, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey. We even stopped into the Tate Modern museum (much to Aaron's dismay). We were only there for 10 minutes but we saw a Picasso! That is one of the things I love about London - you can stumble into a random place and see something amazing and historical.

Afterwards, we pub hopped until dinner at our favorite restaurant. It's an Italian place near our house that we found on TripAdvisor. Last time we were there was with Aaron's family. Aaron's dad asked for a flaming shot of Sambuca, which he tried to drink, but then the glass was too hot. So this time with my Uncle after the meal, came flaming shots of Sambuca. But don't worry, we waited until the fire went out.

This is what Aaron and I do on a lot of our weekends here; explore the city, go to our favorite spots and drink some pints : ) so it was fun to show my Uncle a little part of our life.

The next morning, we ended up walking back along the Thames from Fulham towards the city. There aren't as many sights but it was a beautiful day! And we stumbled upon a really cool pub, the Ship, where we stopped for a pint. Unfortunately, my Uncle couldn't stay for that long since he had to continue onto Paris for work. But it was so good to see him and catch up.

Cermony of the Keys at the Tower of London

For the past 700 years, a tradition has taken place that not many people who live in London know about. The Ceremony of the Keys is the oldest, longest running military ceremony in the world.

Each night at exactly 9:53pm, the Chief Yeoman Warder locks up the Tower of London, where the English monarchy once lived and the crown jewels still reside. From inside the tower, he holds and lantern in one hand and the keys in the other as he is escorted by guards in red uniforms with tall bearskin black hats. He locks the gate and then walks back down the cobblestone path inside the tower with his escorts. Once they get a few steps in, a guard meets the group to question his motives. The following exchange then takes place:

"Halt! Who comes there?"
"The keys."
"Whose keys?"
"Queen Elizabeth's keys."
"Pass Queen Elizabeth's Keys. All is well."
"God preserve Queen Elizabeth."
"Amen!"

Once the Chief Yeoman Warder is allowed to pass, the guards march with him towards the center of the tower. They stop and one of them plays a short "Last Post" trumpet call that signals the end of the day.

Aaron and I got to experience the full ceremony (which only lasts for about 20 minutes) and hear some interesting facts about it last Thursday. There are no pictures allowed, so unfortunately I don't have any to share. The ceremony is free and open to the public, but you must book in advance and only a small number of tickets are available each evening. We booked ours this past spring; they are now sold out until January 2016!

Some interesting facts that we also learned:

• The ceremony has only been late once: during WWII, a bomb fell and literally knocked the Chief Yeoman Warder and guards off their feet. They stood up though and carried on. Afterwards, they wrote a letter apologizing to King George VI for being 3 minutes late. Soon they received a reply saying that because it was due to enemy action, they would be pardoned.
• During WWII, Hitler told his men to avoid bombing the tower because he wanted to live there once they had conquered Great Britain.
• 136 people reside in the Tower of London. The people that live there are employees (such as the guards) and their families. Currently, the oldest resident is 66 and the youngest is a 9 month old baby girl. If you are a resident and go out for a night on the town, you need to plan to stay somewhere for the night because you won't be able to get back in.
• There is a little market, a hairdresser, a pub and other little shops in the Tower for the people who live there. It's like a little village!
• At one time there were 27 pubs in the Tower of London... Talk about stumbling home!

The 2nd Largest Carnival in the World and Europe's Biggest: Notting Hill Carnival

You may have heard of a little neighborhood in London called Notting Hill. It was made famous by the Julia Roberts / Hugh Grant movie, but the real spotlight on the neighborhood happens once a year at the Notting Hill Carnival.

During the last weekend in August (which also has a bank holiday on Monday), the streets shut down to cars and the neighborhood lights up with music, drinks, floats in a parade, costumes and lots and lots of people.

We had heard this was something we had to experience while living in London. Last year, we were out of town, so this year we knew we had to go. I would describe it as a giant Caribbean block party. We had delicious jerk chicken, grilled corn and Red Stripe. There's a parade with Brazilian-style outfits and floats. You wander through the streets and it seems at every turn is a new stage with Caribbean music playing and people dancing. The people watching and outfits are fantastic. Everyone is dancing, laughing, and having fun.

The carnival happens on Sunday and Monday, but we only went on Sunday which is considered family day. While the majority of the carnival is all about having fun, it does have a reputation for being a little sketchy. There have been five murders since the carnival opened in 1966 and a few years ago, there was a lot of gang violence. This year, a police officer was stabbed, and there were 407 arrests which is the highest number in a decade.

Precautions are taken: shops along the streets board up their windows (which then get decorated with graffiti) and there is a strong police presence on practically every corner. But the majority of the time the police are just there for safety and some even dance along with you. They are not there to cause trouble; only step in if it's getting out of hand. Still, it was weird to be drinking out in public right in front of them!

After about three hours, Aaron, Dan, Shelley and I decided to just find a pub. While the 188th carnival was fun, there are an absurd number of people (about one million people go each year) and the restroom situation isn't ideal. It makes me wonder what Anna Scott did during carnival time of year : )

Now for the important part... did my title intrigue you? What is the only other carnival that beats Notting Hill out for being the largest carnival in the world?

Answer: the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, of course!

Stonehenge: A Visit Back in Time

One of the main reasons we rented a car last weekend was to see the infamous Stonehenge. The site is just a short stop-over on the way back to London from Bath, but it really isn't nearby anything and it's not easily accessible using public transportation. We could've booked a tour bus but we wanted the flexibility to arrive and go as we pleased.

Luckily, the trip was worth it. Stonehenge is the oldest thing that both of us have ever seen. It was built in 3100 BC but there is also a burial site with remains from 3000 BC.

The history of Stonehenge still remains a mystery to this day- what was its purpose? Many ideas and myths have evolved throughout the years and there are many debates about why it was constructed and how it was used. The stones were brought from areas in England that are miles away and placed in a calculated manner, and we will likely never know why.

Today, the site welcomes over 1 million visitors a year. There is a visitor's center that you first walk through with an exhibition and artifacts found around the site. The exhibit also has information that explains some of the theories or possible explanations. Then you make the roughly half mile trek up to see the stones.

You used to be able to walk freely around the stones: up to them and even through them. In 1977, they were roped off to protect the monument from erosion. Even though you can't walk right up to the stones anymore, Stonehenge is still incredible to see in person. It looks as it does in the pictures, but the only way I can think to describe it is that you have to "see it to believe it." When you are standing there looking at something that people built in 3100 BC, you are awe-struck by the age, purpose, impact and permanence of the stones. They've stood the test of time this long, and hopefully, will still be there for many more years to come.

UK Getaway: A Relaxing Bath Break

For a while now, I've been wanting to visit Bath. Everyone has told me that it's a really beautiful UK city and perfect for a weekend getaway from London.

We finally made the trip last weekend with our friends, Dan and Shelley. We rented a car and drove the 2.5 hours out there on Saturday morning. After we arrived, we parked and went to have a beer : )

The pub that we went to had this game called bully: there was a picture of a bull on the wall that had a hook for a nose. About 7 feet back there was a string hanging from the ceiling that had a metal loop tied to the end. You have to swing the loop and try to hook it on the bull nose - not as easy as it sounds. A very simple but amusing game which we played for a good half hour while we drank our pints. Dan was the only one to get it hooked once!

Next stop was the Roman Baths. In AD60, the Romans built baths in the area because of it's natural hot springs. The water in the hot springs is actually rain water that falls within the earth and the temperature is then raised through geothermal energy. Today, the Roman bath is still there, but the water is deemed unsafe for actually bathing in. You can still walk through all the areas they used for bathing and there are many artifacts from the Roman era. You can even drink some of the clean bath water that is safe - it is warm and supposedly contains a lot of good nutrients for you... but it was pretty gross! Warm water anyone? ...Yuck.

Afterwards, we walked by Bath Abbey and then up to the Circus and the Royal Crescent. These areas are famous for their Georgian Architecture and are picturesque spots because of their use of Bath stone. The whole town has a "Jane Austen" feel. She actually lived in Bath for a few years, but these places in particular were where this really shown through.

Once we finished walking around, we stumbled upon an 18-hole miniature golf course and ended up playing a round. Aaron won! Finally, we hurried to dinner and then had a mini pub crawl to end the night.

In the morning, we woke and walked around a bit more. While it had been hot and sunny the day before, Sunday it was pretty rainy. We had breakfast and then hurried to the car to make our way to one of the most historical sites we've ever been to... Stonehenge. More to come!

All the World's a Stage...

And all the men and women merely players! On Wednesday, we saw As You Like It at the globe theater in London.

Built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, The Lord Chamberlain's Men, the original globe burned down in 1613. During a performance of Henry VIII, one of the theatrical canons ignited a wooden beam and thatching. It was then rebuilt, but closed down in 30 years later by the Puritans and demolished a few years later. The current one that you see today is a reconstruction that opened in 1997. It is near the old location (not exact), but does show performances as they were in Shakespeare's day.

There are three levels to the Globe- the top and middle which are only seats, and the ground floor which are a mix of seats and standing. It is an open air theater, so although the stage and seats are covered, the standing tickets are exposed to the elements, but this also means that you can get really close to the actors on the stage. However, Aaron and I were very grateful to be sitting in seats for our performance, since in typical British weather, it rained for over half of the show.

They try to make the whole experience very authentic. The seats are benches so the bad part is that your back has no support. But you can pay one pound for a cushion (worth it!) and it adds to the atmosphere of it all. It is a small theater, so you are close to the action no matter where you see the show from.

This is one of the best things that we've done in London. First of all, As You Like It is such a good comedy. The actress that played Rosalind was phenomenal, but all of the actors and actresses were great. Secondly, although it is a reconstruction, I loved being in the Globe. The setting is what you actually pay for, but we really enjoyed the performance.

At the end of the night, it was still pouring rain as we made our way on a bridge across the Thames back to our District line tube stop. There are some things you just can't avoid when living in London no matter how much you pay. And rain, is one of them : )

Cheers to the London Craft Beer Festival

Last weekend, we went to the London Craft Beer Festival with some friends and it was so fun! It was in a warehouse, event space in East London. You got a glass and then were able to sample as many beers as you want from craft breweries in the UK and beyond (Norway, Sweden, Australia)!

My favorites were:
• Eureka by Redemption Brewing Co (an American Amber / Red Lager)
• Cloud Catcher by Stone & Wood (Australian Pale Ale)

Aaron's favorites were:
• Pacific Ale by Stone & Wood (Australian Pale Ale)
• Little Things That Kill - Batch 13 by Weird Beard Brew Co. (Session IPA)

And both of us really enjoyed:
• Gamma Ray by Beavertown (American Pale Ale)
• Avenyn Ale by Dugges Ale- & Porterbryggeri AB (American Pale Ale)

Most of the beers there were very good ...apart from the 13% one I had that's made with maple syrup. Maybe it would be good on pancakes or ice cream but definitely not for drinking a pint!

Feeling the Heat and Music in Vienna

The beauty of being in London is that we can take a short weekend trip to a country we've never been to in Europe. We did that last weekend with a quick holiday break to Vienna. We both have never been to Austria, and we found a good deal on flights and a hotel.

Vienna was full of history, delicious food and classical music. It reminded me of quite a few other countries we've been to, but mixed into one: Germany for the bratwurst, beer and language, but also Hungary, Italy, France, Czech Republic, which made Vienna feel familiar in a way.

We arrived late on friday, so we headed to a nearby café for a beer. Cafés are a huge part of the culture in the city. Locals actually take the time to sip their coffees on the patios outside while enjoying a sachertorte or cigarette.

The next morning, we hopped on a bus tour around the city.  It drove us all over- through old town, new town and out to the many palaces. We even saw the world's oldest still-running ferris wheel (but decided for safety reasons not to get on...) But it was so hot (about 98 degrees!) so we had to get inside to cool down. We stopped off for lunch and toured the Opera House.

I had wanted to go to an opera but unfortunately there are no performances during the month of August. The opera house has so much history, but not all of it is as beautiful as the music housed inside. It first opened in 1869, but public response was not good. People didn't think that it was magnificent or grand enough. Because of the poor feedback when it was being built, one of the architects committed suicide and the other one ended up passing away shortly thereafter. Neither ever saw the completion of their work. The structure was also bombed in WWII and much of it had to be rebuilt. We saw what has been rebuilt, the original structure, backstage and seating area. It was incredible to think of all the composers that had their works performed there: Mozart, Richard Strauss, Richard Wagner and Beethoven to name a few.

Afterwards, we walked through a city market and then made our way to a beer haus that brewed their own beers. We enjoyed pints in the sun before walking around some more and then using our guidebook to find a place for dinner. The restaurant we ended up going to was perfect. Griechenbeisl opened in 1447 and is Vienna's oldest. We ate outside and enjoyed goulash and beers.

Then Aaron decided he wanted to explore the inside of the restaurant. We stumbled upon one room which had a man playing an akkordolia, an instrument that we both have never seen where you play strings and press down on buttons. After listening to the musician for a while, we peered into another room and about to turn and go, when the bartender said we needed to take a look at the back room on the left. He proceeded to take us back there where people were eating their meals! The ceiling and walls were covered in signatures (photo here). And he pointed out signatures of Mozart, Beethoven, Mark Twain, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, Phil Collins, etc. Wow. It was one of the coolest things we've seen.

After dinner, we walked around and ended up in a huge park that was hosting a festival. There were tents set up serving food and drink, and a huge screen set up in front of a cathedral showing a classical music performance. A few hundred people were watching it in the stands, standing (like us) or just enjoying the atmosphere and having drinks with friends. Afterwards, we went to a Heuriger which is a traditional Austrian wine tavern. You can find them because they have a "wreath" symbol above the door.

On Sunday, we toured Mozart's house. He lived there when he was writing the Marriage of Figaro, which premiered in Vienna in 1786. It was neat to learn more about his life (he actually had a terrible gambling habit and the circumstances surrounding his death were questionable), but the museum itself wasn't organized very well. Afterwards, we had bratwursts and walked back to our hotel to collect our bags and head to the airport.

We really liked Vienna. It was a very easy city to explore and everyone was really friendly. It's the headquarters for many International organizations including the United Nations and OPEC, and has a lot more history than we realized. Plus, I loved that music is so interwoven with the city. It wasn't on our "must-travel-to" list when we moved over, but I am so glad that we went and would recommend it to anyone visiting Europe!

A Visit to the Queen's House

Recently Aaron and I toured the Queen's home: Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, no, she wasn't home at the time...

...But for only a few months once a year, Buckingham Palace opens its doors to visitors while the Queen is not there. The rooms and areas that are available to see include:

• The Queen's Gallery - we found this to be the least exciting part. It is artwork from the Royal Collection. The featured exhibition right now is the palace garden.
• The Royal Mews - this part has working stables and houses everything to do with transportation for the Queen and other members of the royal family (such as coaches, carriages, and Bentleys). It even houses the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV. Fun facts: the cars do not have registration numbers since they are state vehicles. They also have special engines that allow them to drive at a very slow speed for a long time (used during the processions).
• The State Rooms - This was the best part! We toured through 19 rooms that are used for ceremonial occasions and entertaining. They are called the state rooms because they are public rooms (used for state entertaining). You couldn't take pictures in any of the rooms, so unfortunately I have no photos but they were all elegant, pristine, and very "royal". The Queen has her own seamstress/designer and we saw some of her outfits, hats and jewellery that she's worn to important functions. We also saw some gifts given from other Heads of State who have visited the palace. My favorite state room was the ballroom which is where all the banquets take place. The room is huge, and it was set up as if the state banquet was taking place (with beautiful china, table decorations, etc). There are at least five glasses used during a banquet dinner: one for water, red wine, white wine, champagne, sherry. That's a lot of drinking!

To give you some background, Buckingham Palace was originally a house built in 1701 for the Duke of Buckingham. It was then bought by King George III in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a home. Eventually King George IV and later King William IV built it into a palace. Finally when Queen Victoria came to power, she turned it into her primary residence and expanded it further.

The palace is massive and we only toured through a small part of it. It has 775 rooms (including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms and one indoor pool).

We would definitely recommend touring the palace if it is open. Seeing it from the outside is neat, but being in rooms where so many monarchs have walked before is incredible.