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!