Cloughs in Clogs

The Alamo Bowl and New Year's

2012-01-25T11:41:00.000+01:00

After a relaxing Christmas at the ranch, we headed to San Antonio where the Baylor Bears would be playing in the Alamo Bowl. My parents surprised the entire family with tickets to the game and two nights on the River Walk. Though I am not a huge football fanatic, the excitement surrounding Baylor's incredible 2011 football season after many so-so years, would make any Baylor fan incredibly enthusiastic about the opportunity to see them in a bowl game. The 2011 Baylor football season was a monumental year, finishing second best in the Big 12 and 13th in the final AP standings, which is the program's highest finish since 1986, and produced its first Heisman Trophy winner, RG3, or Robert Griffin, III.

Posing in front of the LCD image in our hotel lobby

We arrived in San Antonio the day before the game and enjoyed staying in the historic Gunther Hotel, which was decked out in Baylor colors. It seemed the entire Baylor Nation was on the River Walk, because it was flooded in green and gold. We enjoyed shopping, eating and enjoying the beautiful and festive Christmas lights along the river.

Enjoying the most amazing margaritas (with an upside down bottle of beer) at a River Walk bar

We also managed to fit in a bit of tourism and saw the Alamo film, "The Price of Freedom," at the IMAX, that my great uncle and cousin star in. It's not the best film version of the Alamo, but it was interesting to see my family in the film and as a Texan, it's a way to fulfill our duty to "Remember the Alamo."

In front of the huge Christmas tree in Alamo Square

The Alamo

The Alamo Bowl stadium was packed with over 65,000 people and it was fun to run into Baylor friends, including Drew and Spring, who were sitting a mere 3 rows in front of us.

Sic'em Bears, with college buds, Drew and Spring

The Catlin Gang at the game (4 out of 6 are Baylor alums)

The game was incredibly exciting, and especially the outcome where Baylor won the game with a 67-56 final score against Washington. It was an amazing two days in San Antonio with my family and I will always cherish these memories and will forever Remember the Alamo Bowl!

From San Antonio, Jon and I headed to Austin with Laurel and Jason for two nights before New Year's. Jon had a list a mile long of things he wanted to do and places he wanted to go in Austin (Juan-in-a-Million, Waterloo Records, Run-Tex, 6th Street). Somehow we managed to fit it all in and made our way all over the city in record time. In order to avoid the chaos of downtown on New Year's Eve, we had our night out on the 30th. After discovering a couple new bars on far West 6th Street, we spent most of our time on East 6th Street, re-familiarizing ourselves with our old haunts. We had a great time bar-hopping, listening to live music, and enjoying all that downtown Austin has to offer.

On New Year's Eve, we enjoyed a lovely couples dinner at a restaurant near their house and spent the rest of the night shooting off fireworks in their street with the neighbors. It was the perfect low key yet always fun New Year's Eve. There's no two people we'd rather ring in the new year with!

Early on New Year's Day, Jon and I caught a flight from Austin to Norfolk, Virginia, where we spent the next few days visiting his family in North Carolina. Though it was a short trip, we managed to visit with a lot of his family, to include his grandparents, parents, brother, sister-in-law and nephew, and many aunts and uncles. Jon is so blessed to come from a large family who mostly live around Northeastern North Carolina, which makes visiting many family members much easier.

A beautiful North Carolina sunset over the sound in Columbia

With Jon's grandparents, Grandaddy and Grandmamma Hobbs

After many delicious meals on the farm, quality time catching up with family, a post-Christmas celebration, and shopping in the Outer Banks, Jon and I were headed back to the airport, each flying our separate ways. Jon returned to Germany and I went back to Texas for another 10 days. It was hard to believe that the Christmas and New Year's holidays were over, but we managed to make the most of our 17 days together in the States. We are so grateful we were able to see both our amazing families during this unforgettable trip home. We love and thank you for making our time with you all so meaningful!

Home for the Holidays

2012-01-24T10:10:00.000+01:00

Yes, there's no place like home for the holidays. Jon and I were long overdue for a holiday season in the States and we managed to spend Christmas in Texas and New Year's in North Carolina. It was heavenly. After spending a few days in Dallas, Waco and Bryan, we headed south to Bandera for a country Christmas at the ranch. This is where I spent most all my Christmases growing up, and Christmas anywhere else doesn't feel quite the same.

Ranch House

Ranch House, under the 'Texas Historic sign' stating the house was built in 1855.

We've always had strong traditions surrounding Christmas, and this year was no different. On Christmas Eve, we shared a dinner of tamales and chili before searching for Santa's sleigh in the sky (only to just miss him in our house delivering presents) and afterward we sing carols and read the story of Jesus' birth. Lastly, we open presents.

Enjoying a glass of Riesling with Aunt Nean, Mom, Laurel and Mandy

This year, we had a guest appearance from Santa Jason, thinking Braxton would enjoy it. But alas, not so much. Poor Braxton was terrified of the man in the big red suit (aka, his dad) and couldn't even look at him. It did, however, definitely provide entertainment for the rest of the adults.

Santa Jason, Laurel and a terrified Braxton

Santa Jason and an oh-so-happy Jon

Fireplace mantle

On Christmas morning, we woke to our stockings filled with goodies. After a lazy morning, we had a wonderful Christmas lunch in the dining room with turkey and all the fixin's. It was an absolutely perfect Christmas celebration surrounded by family in a beautiful setting.

Opening stockings on Christmas morning

Christmas lunch

Braxton on Christmas Day

The Catlin-Hicks Family (with Aunt Nean and Uncle Dickie)

We stayed at the ranch the following two days after Christmas enjoying quality time with one another and all the animals and beautiful weather at the ranch. There was lots of sunshine and the highs were in the upper 60s. I loved not having to wear a huge coat every time I left the house. One of the "chores" we had to look forward to each day, usually twice a day, was to feed the donkeys bread. They go crazy over bread and my dad came up with an interesting way of feeding them to see how close they would get. So, we all decided to give the donkeys and Amigo, the horse, who also loves bread, bread kisses.

Dad giving the donkeys "bread kisses"

Jon giving Amigo a "bread kiss" with Rambo looking on

Me and Rambo, the favorite miniature donkey

In order to utilize the huge barbecue pit behind the ranch house, Jon and Jason decided to have a barbecue cook-off with a pig Jason's boss provided him. Jason cooked it in the Texas-style, and Jon in the North Carolina-style, with a vinegar rub. Both finished products were absolutely delicious!

Barbecue cook-off on the Barbecue pit

Dad and Braxton walking down to the pit with the guys

On our last few days at the ranch, the weather was so perfect we wanted to spend as much time outside as possible. Laurel, Mandy and I had decided to take a walk along the creek and were met up by my dad on a four-wheeler. We decided to all pile on (along with Laurel's dog) and enjoyed the rest of the tour on four wheels.

Four adults and one dog on a Four-Wheeler

Ranch Vista

The beauty of the ranch, even in December, is so captivating and although I try to capture it in pictures, it simply doesn't do justice. I love this place like none other and have so many special memories spending time here with my grandparents as a child, summer family reunions, Christmases and other holidays and most recently, the place where both my sister and I were married.

On our last night at the ranch, we enjoyed a bonfire in the fire pit making smores and looking at the stars in the clear Texas sky. It was the perfect ending to another perfect Christmas at the ranch.

A Walk in Bastogne, 1945: Part II

2012-01-18T21:06:00.000+01:00

Two years ago, Jon and I participated in our first Bastogne Historic Walk and I chronicled it in the blog as "A Walk in Bastogne, 1945." You truly get the feeling you are stepping back in 1945 experiencing the way life was for the soldiers during the infamous Battle of the Bulge. The day after our friends, the Polkas, arrived, we embarked once again on another journey back to 1945 to explore Bastogne through the eyes of the many American soldiers who fought there.

Two soldiers (re-enactors) running along the Historic Walk

In addition to Allison and JW, our friend Jeff came with us and we met up with Jon's brother, Neil, and his daughter, Sybil, in Bastogne. Allison and I participated in the shortest walk, 8 kilometers, while the rest did the full distance, 17 kilometers. During this time, you pass by several WWII encampments, portrayed by local re-enactment groups.

At the end of the Historic Walk, before entering the city of Bastogne

It is incredible to see the vast number of authentic WWII uniforms, equipment, weapons, and vehicles as part of the display. The re-enactors take their jobs very seriously, as they don't break character attempting to provide a real depiction of their living standards and behavior during that time; drinking out of tin cups, cooking over an open fire and smoking Lucky Strikes.

Re-enactors in Bastogne

Jon, Neil and Sybil posing next to the half-track

Cemetery for fallen German soldiers

Soldiers on watch next to their fox-holes

During our walk, Allison and I were admiring a vehicle, when the driver asked us to come on board for a glass of strawberry wine. How could we refuse?

After our walk, Allison and I had lunch and browsed the shops of Bastogne while we waited for the others to finish. Once all together, we took part in the "nuts-throwing ceremony" - an homage to General McAuliffe's single-word reply to a German surrender ultimatum. Just as he passionately said "Nuts," nuts are passionately thrown from the mayor's balcony to the crowd below to close the day's events.

Our Posse before the parade

Jon, Sybil and Neil proudly displaying their nuts

This is truly such a special and unique occasion, and I'm so happy we were able to share it with our friends and family. It is an important reminder of this heroic battle fought by the American forces in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII.

A modern-day soldier with his cub-scout son

Five Days with the Polkas

2012-01-18T20:23:00.001+01:00

I was so excited to receive an early Christmas present this year - a visit from the Polkas! After a rip-roaring good time together at Oktoberfest in 2009, I was so thrilled that one of my dearest friends from high school, Allison and her husband, J.W., made it possible to squeeze in one more trip to visit us overseas. Unfortunately, this would be a much shorter visit than before, only 5 days, but we still managed to see and do a lot in this timeframe. After picking them up from the airport in Amsterdam, we immediately trekked to the Kinderdijk with its 19 windmills strung out on both sides of canals. What would a trip to Holland be without windmills?

At the Kinderdijk

After a morning of admiring windmills and lunch at the best pannekoekenbakker in Thorn, we finally made it to our house where they received their "welcome" gifts.... clog slippers, of course.

Showing off their clog slippers

There's nothing better than being able to show off your town and a glimpse of your life to friends and family from home. I was so happy that Allison and J.W. loved Sittard and our way of life here. When Jon and I had to abandon them for a couple hours for church cantata rehearsal, they made the most of their time biking to town and perusing the shops and cafes.

In the Sittard Markt

Sittard

Jon's favorite statue, in Sittard

Although the weather can be quite cold, one of the best reasons for visiting in December is to see all the fantastically festive Christmas markets throughout Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. We first went to the Christmas-glammed town of Valkenburg, the Netherlands, to visit the unique market in the caves and enjoy a superb dinner.

Valkenburg Christmas Market

Dinner in Valkenburg

On our way to my favorite Christmas market in Aachen, Germany, we visited the Drielandenpunt, where the borders of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet.

Drielandenpunt

Enjoying some cocoa and gluwein at the Aachen Christmas Market

Aachen Christmas Market

At the end of their stay, we spent their final day and night in Amsterdam to explore Holland at its best - canal-roaming, flower market perusing, cheese-tasting, Van Gogh admiring, Heineken-brewing and Anne Frank learning. And we still managed to fit in a bit of shopping as well.

An Allie-Cat in a Clog

Amsterdam

Jon and JW touring the Heineken Brewery

Amsterdam at Night

A post-dinner stroll through the Red Light District

We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather during their stay and I was amazed how much we were able to fit in during their 5 days here. It was an incredibly wonderful visit and I'm so grateful to Allison and J.W. for making this trip a priority before their baby comes this spring. Thanks for the many good times and I can't wait for many more ahead!

A Very Merry Christmas Party

2011-12-16T09:40:00.000+01:00

Last weekend's US-NATO Christmas Party was a huge success due to the outstanding company, delicious buffets, open bar, and rockin' jams to dance to at the end of the night. I am so glad we decided to attend, even though we had visitors that had just arrived from Texas earlier in the day. After keeping them up all day long, we felt okay about leaving them to crash early for the night while we got some party time with some of our closest friends. December is usually such a busy month with holiday parties, activities, travels, and everyone going in different directions. I'm grateful for this night of quality fun we had before Jon and I return to Texas for the holidays.

Our table of ladies with Santa

Jon decked out in his pirate tie and suspenders

Paris Ladies Pic

"Let's see if we can all look in difference directions. Brian, what are you staring at?"

A very merry Christmas party, indeed! Can't wait for more holiday gatherings this weekend before we board a plane to Texas on Monday.... woo hoo!

Parisian Play: The Paris you don't read about in guidebooks.....

2011-11-30T14:12:00.012+01:00

Over Thanksgiving weekend, a girls trip to Paris finally came to fruition. Jon was at an exercise in Norway and it seemed the opportune time to whisk away to the City of Light for a weekend of shopping, girl-time and exploring tourist-free Paris. As it was my 9th visit to Paris, I had explored the many museums and monuments of Paris as one of the many tourists that swarm this city each day. Though I still have so much I want to see in this city, I was looking forward to a weekend dedicated to getting off the beaten tourist path. I feel so blessed to have three fabulous friends who were up for taking part in this plan-o-play in Paris. When we hopped in the car on Friday morning to begin our journey, I don't think we had any idea what an adventure of hilarious encounters and unforgettable memories would be in store for us.

Me, Cara, Margaret and Meghan striking a pose at Place de Vosges

As there were four of us, we decided to book an apartment in my favorite quarter, the Marais, 3e. Filled with funky bars, sophisticated boutiques, a trendy population and thriving Jewish and gay communities, this vibrant patch of Paris provides a unique local flavor of Parisian life. After getting settled in our apartment, we immediately hopped on the metro to the Louvre area and went to my favorite tea room in Paris, Angelina Salon de Thé. Though it is raved about in guidebooks and visited by tourists and locals alike, this place simply can't be missed. In addition to the many delicious pastries and sweets, it has the most remarkable hot chocolate ever tasted, Le chocolat a l’ancienne dit l’Africain. It is truly like drinking melted chocolate and it is served with a bowl of whipped cream. It is not overly bitter or sweet, but incredibly rich and downright delicious. I was thrilled that the girls liked it too and think this may become a regular stop on their future trips to Paris, as it is mine.

Angelina Tea Room

After being filled up on chocolates and sweets, we walked across the street into the Jardin des Tuileries for an evening stroll as dusk was setting in. Though it is late November, the weather was surprisingly mild and we were able to walk around with mere light jackets to take in the sites of Paris in its most beautiful setting; bathed in city lights.

Jardin des Tuileries

Musee de Louvre

From the Jardin des Tuileries to the Louvre, we exited along the Seine on the unique wooden bridge, Pont de Arts. From here we had spectacular views of the Ile de la Cite to our left and the Eiffel Tower to our right.

View of Ile de la Cite from Pont de Arts

Pont de Arts

We meandered along the Seine until we reached the Notre Dame Cathedral where the Christmas tree was in the final stages of being decorated. This was my first time to visit Paris in "winter" and though the Christmas lights were in the early stages around the city, it was nice to get a glimpse of what it must look like in its holiday glitter and glam.

Notre Dame Cathedral

That night, we enjoyed a fantastic dinner on the popular restaurant row, Rue Montorgueil, in the Le Halles area. Afterward, we met up with my Parisian friend, Thomas and his girlfriend, Clemence, at Place de la Republique to visit their favorite wine bar. Unfortunately, we have no pics from this night, but we have memories that will last a lifetime regarding anything related to 'Montpelier.'

The next day, we meandered around the Marais and had breakfast at a sidewalk cafe and browsed along the boutique-filled street of Rue des Francs Bourgeois, which leads to the Place de Vosges. This beautiful courtyard surrounded by pink-bricked mansions, including Victor Hugo's, has a lovely park with fountains and green space.

Breakfast in Marais

Place de Vosges

Afterward, we hopped on the metro to one of the best department stores in Paris, Galeries de Lafayette. As it was a Saturday, the store was completely packed with shoppers, but we still managed to have a great time viewing the designer clothes and 6 levels of fashion.

Galeries Lafayette

On the top floor, we accessed the roof to obtain gorgeous views of Paris in the late afternoon. We ate lunch at the cafe where you can access wine by the spicket. All in all, it was a great shopping day, despite the fact that I didn't buy one thing. I'm not sure how this is possible, but honestly, I get just as much joy being in the presence of such beautiful stores and fashion, and I simply didn't see anything I couldn't live without. Needless to say, this won't be my last shopping trip to Paris.

View of Paris from rooftop of Galeries Lafayette

Rooftop view of Galeries Lafayette

After a long day of walking, it was nice to relax in the apartment that evening before our second big night out on the town. These evenings in the apartment were some of my favorite moments of the weekend as we would re-hash the day's events and sip wine anticipating the night ahead.

Getting ready in our apartment

Once again we met up with our favorite "tour guide" Thomas who recommended a great place for our group dinner, a Corsican restaurant, Le Temple. Not only was the food delicious, but the atmosphere was swathed in kitsch with pictures of Marilyn Monroe, chairs in the shape of stilettos, and a sea of leopard print. It was utterly delightful! We had one of the most hilarious dinners of my life with plenty of laughter and yet again, more incredible memories.

Dinner at Le Temple

Thomas and I have been friends for six years since our days in Waco, Texas, together. He was there for an overseas internship and I met him through a friend and connected him with the my all-time-favorite group of international exchange students at Baylor from 2005. Among many adventures together during those few months, one regular occasion was karaoke every Wednesday night. We have reminisced about these times a lot during my previous visits to Paris, but never once have we succeeded in finding a place for karaoke in Paris. All that was about to change. He and Clemence had booked a table for us at a karaoke bar that night and my karaoke dry spell in Paris was about to end.

Performing to "I'm too sexy..."

The C-Girls singing "Dancing Queen"

It turns out there is a reason that we have not frequented a karaoke bar before now in Paris - karaoke is not such a popular event in France and it's certainly not the same experience as in the USofA. We entered the cellar where the karaoke area was, and were a small group compared to the other three groups of 10+ people all there celebrating birthdays. Also, every song chosen was a French song, so we definitely stood out when we chose to sing songs in English. I was first to break the ice with my rendition of "I'm too Sexy." Apparently this song was never a big hit in France as the crowd acted like they'd never heard it, but I kept on with my performance and eventually they got into it. Our group sure was having fun with it! Thomas and Clemence sang a Beatles song, "Back in the USSR," and the C-Girls (Cathleen, Cara, Clemence, Carpaccio-Meghan and Camembert-Margaret) sang "Dancing Queen." After utterly and completely embarrassing ourselves, we left the bar and headed to the nearby Pigalle district where we found a bar with a great cover band. After shutting that place down in the wee hours of the morning, it was time to call it a night.

Our final day in Paris, we were a bit sluggish due to two previous late nights (or early mornings) out on the town. Margaret had to head back to Germany that day, but Cara, Meghan and I eventually made it to the flea market of St. Ouen north of Montmartre. We each bought some scarves from India in the ethnic section of stalls and made our way to the incredibly unique and extensive antique section where we marveled at vintage Hermes and Chanel handbags and clothes.

That evening, we attended an improv show that Thomas and Clemence were a part of. It was a great experience to get a glimpse of my friend's life outside of tour-guiding us around and to encounter the hip culture of Paris. Though the show was completely in French, we managed to have plenty of laughs and understood the big picture of what was going on. The group is so talented and I have no doubt they will have a great future ahead with improv comedy.

Improv show, featuring Thomas and Clemence

After the show, we decided after a weekend of staying off the beaten tourist path, it was okay for our last night to visit the very touristy area of the Latin Quarter for dinner. Afterward, we headed to a cozy piano bar where we were seated touching the stage. We had great access to the talented piano player and singer and enjoyed singing along to some classic tunes. We were absolutely enamored by the singer, Dominique, and I decided that I truly wanted to become her..... a glamourous piano bar singer. We even took notes on how to make this happen (20's style haircut, long pleated dress, bedazzled belt, fabulous earrings and shoes and hosiery with seams). Maybe in my next life....

Piano Bar

After three event-filled days and nights in Paris, Monday morning came entirely too early and it was not fun leaving this incredible city to head back to reality. But once on the train, pulling out of Gare du Nord, we left our disappointment of leaving behind and instead re-capped our many fun moments of the weekend with lots of laughter on the 3-hour trip home. I am so grateful for each of these fantastic ladies that joined me on this adventure of play in Paris. It was the perfect setting with the perfect group and I will never forget this weekend and the amusing and entertaining times had by all. Merci beaucoup, mes ami!

A Black Forest Birthday

2011-11-16T10:39:00.000+01:00

Fall in Europe is absolutely breathtaking. It might be that I especially go crazy for Autumn because in Texas, this season doesn't really exist. Fall in Texas means a temperature drop from 90 degrees to 75 (if we're lucky) and leaves turning from green straight to brown and then falling on the ground. The past four years living in Europe, it's been so amazing to see the bright shades of golds, coppers and cinnamon hues that the leaves become. The temperature drop allows for a whole new set of clothes that I never knew existed before to transition between summer and winter. It's Fall in Europe and I am loving it!

Badenweiler

Although our home in Sittard is putting on quite an Autumn show with gorgeous sunny days and beautiful-changing trees, the places that really showcase the best of Fall are those with the most trees. The best forest around is the Schwarzwald, or Black Forest, in the southwest corner of Germany. I had visited here twice before in early October and the scenery was amazing with rolling green hills and thick trees everywhere. It was time for yet another Baylor visit to my favorite international school, the Black Forest Academy, however this year I would be going in November, over Jon's birthday. I convinced him to take two days off work and join me on the 5-hour road trip south so we could make a two-day getaway out of the occasion, staying in the resort thermal bath town of Badenweiler.

While I was giving presentations and attending the school fair at BFA, Jon would be able to spend his birthday running around the woods, swimming in our hotel pool and enjoying the beauty of the Black Forest. Unfortunately, the Black Forest didn't exactly want to cooperate with us and was completely shrouded in clouds and a dense fog, which limited visibility beyond 100 yards in front of you. We still made the most of our time and after my day at the school, we enjoyed a great night on the town for Jon's birthday, celebrating his 32 years of awesomeness.

Birthday Dinner - Goulasch!

The following day, it was yet again foggy, but the visibility was better so we started the morning with a trail run through the woods. Nothing, not even dense fog, could block the brilliant hues of the trees in the forest and it was so surreal to run on paths covered in patches of bright yellow, orange and red leaves. Afterward, we made our way to the thermal bath where we soaked in the numerous pools indoor and outdoor. This is something I greatly miss from living in Wiesbaden, as I would go to the baths at least once a month.

Cassiopeia Thermal Bath

After feeling rejuvenated and refreshed from the thermal water, we walked around the numerous parks of Badenweiler and up to the castle ruins atop a hill above town. Although I had hoped to get pictures of the beautiful trees with blue skies as the background, the scenery was still incredible.

Badenweiler

Castle ruins of Badenweiler

View from atop the castle ruins

The best part about the trip was being able to spend time with my one-of-a-kind husband on his birthday. Fog and all, I will always have special memories of this getaway to the Black Forest and the chance to celebrate yet another milestone together in the adventures of The Captain and Frau Clough. Happy 32nd, Juan!

Sittard Oktoberfeest

2011-10-26T11:42:00.000+02:00

One of the most amazing festivals in our town of Sittard is Oktoberfeest! Although we are in the Netherlands, the Dutch love to celebrate this occasion and for six days Sittard's old town is packed with carnival rides, delicious snack stands with frites, caramel apples, ollie balls, waffles, churros, and of course, bratwurst and kartoffel. But, no Oktoberfeest is complete without the beer tents. There are three main tents, each with their own entertainment and live music each evening. Jon and I were excited that this year, the Ramstein-Cloughs would be joining in on the fun. On Friday night, we all went downtown to scope out the rides. We rode Mission Space (which hoists you 80 meters in the sky with spectacular views of the city), the Spinner Coaster, took a tour through the Rue de Paris fun-house, and the girls were able to glide atop a pool of water in massive beach balls. Despite the frigid temperatures, we had a blast and the girls couldn't wait to return again over the weekend.

Rue de Paris Fun House

Sybil and Shannon floating in the giant beach balls

Emily, Neil and Jon with their bunny ears

Although they were freezing, Neil and Jon were determined to wear their new tuxedo shirts

We were blessed with beautiful weather over the weekend with blue skies and lots of sunshine. Saturday morning, after a trip to Thorn and its infamous pancake house, we stopped at a pumpkin patch to pick up pumpkins for the girls to carve. Aren't they splendidly evil?

Later that night, we trekked downtown again to take part in Oktoberfeest celebrations one final time. We met up with some friends in the Erdinger tent and managed to snag a table in the exact location as last year..... right next to the band! We had a blast dancing atop the table benches to all the lively songs, hoisting our beers in the air and enjoying one last chance to fest in our dirndls and lederhosen.

The ladies after snagging our table

The gang

The Cavanaughs - they look so authentically German!

The band did not shy away from pics.... and neither do I

The guys

Our crew of ladies while the guys were out riding rides

My lederhosen-wearing man.... Rrrrrr

The packed Erdinger tent

After four hours in the tent, we left just in time to ride a couple rides before the carnival closed for the night. Honestly, as much as I love to dance and listen to the fun bands, I think my favorite part about Oktoberfeest are the super cool rides! I've always been a fan of the carnival rides, even in the States where they're especially scary, and Sittard has the best this year I've ever experienced. Alas, after a month of Oktoberfest-ing, I'm pretty fest-ed out and am glad to be hanging up my dirndl for another year. We've truly made the most of this fantastic season and although I'm happy to be seeing it end this year, I know come next September, I'll be itching to take part in all the fun once more. Now to start thinking about Christmas markets..... it's never a dull moment around here!

These are the days of Oktoberfest.....

2011-10-20T07:20:00.000+02:00

There are many seasons and celebrations I anticipate throughout the year; Christmas, Carnaval, July 4th. But, there is one season that is growing more dear to my heart the longer I live in Europe. It is the glorious three-week festival that jump-starts the Autumn atmosphere and gives us a reason to celebrate folk traditions and drink delicious beer between the holidays of Labor Day and Halloween. It's OKTOBERFEST!

This fantastic Bavarian tradition embraces all things German (at least what we Americans think of as typical German), to include traditional Bavarian cuisine, music and dress. I absolutely love my dirndl, and look for any excuse to wear it as often as possible. September was my month to host Bunco, and I decided to throw an Octoberfest-themed night of 'Bunctoberfest.' I had so much fun transforming the kitchen to look like a tent and finding Otkoberfest-themed decor and prizes. For the meal, I prepared a pork roast with red cabbage, potato salad, and apple pie. It was a great success and most of the girls came dressed in costume.

Bunctoberfest Ladies

Bunctoberfest

A few days later, I attended the Oktoberfest party at the Geilenkirchen Air Base. This was my first time to attend and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was quite surprised with how similarly the tent resembled a real Munich Oktoberfest tent. There wasn't quite the crowds or raucous behavior, but there was a great band, plenty of brews and entertaining antics. The only thing missing was my lederhosen-wearing man.

GK Oktoberfest

Although Oktoberfest in Munich is only during the last two weeks in September and first week in October, many villages throughout Germany hold Oktoberfest fairs and celebrations throughout the month of October. We recently went to a great fair in the local German village of Haaren with a group of friends. This time Jon was home and able to go and we had a wonderful night of dancing to Oktoberfest tunes and reveling in the fun with our friends.

Haaren Oktoberfest

The Zinneckers at the Haaren Oktoberfest

Meghan, the bar-maid, at Haaren Oktoberfest

I feel we've definitely made the most of this year's Oktoberfest season! Although Oktoberfest in Germany has come and gone, Sittard is gearing up for their version, OktoberFEEST this weekend. We are looking forward to a crazy good time with friends and family and will be reporting back soon. Prost!

Good Times in Gent

2011-10-17T14:08:00.001+02:00

To celebrate Jon's return at the end of September and the un-seasonably beautiful weather we were experiencing, we embarked on an overnight trip to Gent, Belgium. Other than seeing this city on signposts in Belgium, we really didn't know much about this capital and largest city of the East Flanders province.

Gent is often compared to with Bruges, with its many canals, bridges and gabled buildings. However, whereas Bruges is storybook charming and thronging with tourists, Gent has more of a city feel with a vibrant university population. We had been looking forward to a trip to Gent since June when we met a fun couple in Lisbon from this city. We were sat next to them at dinner and struck up a conversation which resulted in spending the rest of the night exploring Lisbon's nightlife together. They explained that Gent is a favorite city among Belgians, who feel that Bruges is too touristy. Unfortunately, we were not able to meet up with them on our visit, but we managed to have an incredible time exploring Gent's charms.

The Graslei

The must-see sights are few in Gent, and could easily be covered in a day. There are several churches in the old town and we visited St. Bavo to see the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb Altarpiece. We also climbed to the top of the Belfry, a belltower, to see commanding views of Gent.

St. Nicholas Church viewed from the Belfry

View of Gent from the Belfry

But mostly, our sight-seeing consisted of meandering along the Graslei and viewing the gorgeous architecture of the old town, and stopping at cafes to experience local brews. We also managed to find a great place for dinner with all-you-can-eat ribs. It. Was. Awesome.

After a night to ourselves in Gent, we were joined the next day by great friends, the Grimms and Moones. They decided to make a day trip to Gent and we had a blast exploring shops together, eating lunch and cruising the old town streets.

Sipping Klokke Rollands at the famous Waterhuis aan de Bierkant

The Graslei at Night

Enjoying a Night with Belgian Beers

Our trip was short and sweet, but we couldn't have asked for a better time in Gent complete with gorgeous weather, stunning architecture, a laid-back ambiance, good friends and delicious food and brews. We definitely hope to get back to Gent!

Dos Hermanas in Andalucía

2011-10-05T11:00:00.000+02:00

In early September, two days after returning from Sweden, Jon and I were packing yet again for individual excursions. He was off on another mini-deployment and I was bound for Spain to meet up with Mandy. She was visiting a college friend in Madrid, but met me in Sevilla where we enjoyed four days in the Andalucía region known for its Spanish guitar, flamenco dancing, bullfights, tapas, sangria and lots of sunshine!

At the Bullfight Arena in Sevilla

After meeting up at the hotel, we immediately visited the Sevilla Cathedral and Giralda Tower. It is the third largest church in Europe and the largest Gothic cathedral. It was built on the site for a former mosque in 1401 and the architecture still has many Moorish influences. The Giralda Bell Tower is a remnant of the original mosque and rises 330 feet above the city providing spectacular views. The spiraling ramp, rather than stairs, was designed to accommodate riders on horseback who galloped up five times a day to give the Muslim call to prayer.

View of Sevilla from Giralda Bell Tower

After the Cathedral tour we visited Alcazar, a former Moorish palace from the 10th century. This building still functions as a royal palace and is the oldest in use in Europe. The Moorish design was gorgeous with arched doorways, reflective pools, fountains and beautiful tile work and mosaics. The most amazing thing about the palace are the expansive gardens behind the palace, filled with tropical flowers and cool fountains.

Alcazar Palace

Gardens of Alcazar Palace

This was my second time to visit this wonderful city, and I was most excited to have the chance to visit the amazing tapas bars on my return. This city knows how to make some tapas and the many classic old bars throughout the narrow alleys of the Santa Cruz neighborhood do it best. We enjoyed a tapas bar-hop dinner before taking in a flamenco dance performance later that night. Touristy? Yes, but still a must while in Sevilla where the flamenco dance was born. The costumes are fantastic and the music is eerily beautiful.

Tapas at a street-side cafe

Tapas at Las Teresas where Ham Hangs Above the Bar

Flamenco Dance Performance

Our next day in Sevilla, we visited the Plaza de Espana, which I hadn't seen on my first visit. I was blown away by this enormous square, built for the 1929 international fair. The Spanish Pavilion is outlined in tiles showing historic scenes and maps from every province of Spain. Here we embarked on a horse and buggy ride that took us around the square, Maria Luisa Park, downtown Sevilla and back. It was a fun and relaxing way to see this beautiful city from a new perspective.

Spanish Pavilion Tiles

Plaza de Espana

Our Carriage

After some post-siesta shopping (this city has some fantastic stores with the most gorgeous shoes you've ever seen), we toured the Bullfight Museum. The bullfight tradition is still alive and well throughout Spain, and especially in this region. The Matadors are revered as heroes and fights occur weekly throughout the summer.

Ole from the Bullfight Arena

After learning about the art of the bullfight, we trekked to the Triana neighborhood for dinner with a spectacular view. We dined on the rooftop of a restaurant along the river and enjoyed watching the Spaniards at play in this magnificent city.

View of Cathedral from Triana Neighborhood

Our third day in Spain, we traveled South to the white hill towns, or pueblos blancos, to experience the Andalucían countryside. We drove two hours to Arcos de la Frontera, the queen of the white hill towns. Surrounded by rolling hills, this town is situated atop a hill along a cliff on two sides. There is only one way up to the old town and one way down. After getting a little over-confident of my driving skills in the narrow old town, I missed a turn, tried to correct and got in a little bit of a pickle trying to make a second turn. Luckily, a seasoned local was there to bail me out, take the wheel and make the turn into the narrow alley up to the main square. All while an entire audience of cafe-patrons put down their drinks to watch. After a half hour of complete embarrassment, I was able to compose myself enough to enjoy a relaxing lunch and pitcher of sangria to ease the humiliation. Our hotel was in a prime location overlooking the main square and situated along one of the cliffs. We had spectacular views of the town, ravine and countryside below.

View of Arcos Old Town from Hotel Terrace

Lunch in Arcos

On the Main Square, the Plaza del Cabildo, which provides a great look-out point

Plaza del Cabildo look-out point

Arcos Alleys

Other than the church, there are no main sites to see in Arcos except the beautiful town itself. We loved through the white-washed alleys and dipping in to shops to view beautiful artwork and handi-crafts. After dinner, we would come back to the terrace and enjoy a glass of wine with views of a dimly lit Arcos in the background.

Arcos at Night, Viewed from the Hotel Terrace

Arcos de la Frontera

With Arcos as our base camp, we made a day excursion to two other beautiful white hill towns. First was Grazalema, a beautiful postcard-pretty hill town. As much as we loved Grazalema and its quaintness, we also loved the drive getting there. Our route took us through the enormous Grazalema Natural Park, with views of rolling hills and blue sky as far as the eye could see.

Grazalema Natural Park

Grazalema

Next we drove to Ronda, a unique town that straddles a gorge with the Moorish quarter on one side and the Mercadillo quarter on the other. After a delicious lunch cliffside, we walked along the gorge to view its three gorge-spanning bridges. We then hiked 10-minutes down a steep path to get pictures of the largest bridge below. A beautiful crystal clear creek with waterfalls and pools lay at the bottom of the steep gorge.

Ronda Gorge

Back in Arcos, we enjoyed one last sunset and tapas dinner in this picture-perfect town where time seems to stand still. Tomorrow, we would be leaving the Andalucían countryside and bound for the bustling capital of Madrid.

View from Hotel Balcony

View from Plaza del Cabildo

Our Final Tapas Dinner

Our train ride to Madrid was one of the most beautiful train rides I've experienced. It may not have had the Alps of Switzerland or the fjords of Norway, but the dry desert-high plain, mountainous landscape was gorgeous and refreshingly different from the rest of Europe. Mandy's friend, Elizabeth, met us at the station and immediately took us on a whirlwind tour of the city. First stop was Retiro Park, Madrid's version of Central Park. This 300-acre park was beautifully shaded with a large lake in the middle. Next, we visited the Prado museum where we viewed masterpieces by Velazquez and Goya.

Retiro Park

Afterward, we walked through the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor, the two main squares of the city. Our final stop was the covered Mercado de San Miguel, filled with high-end food vendors. I made a bee-line to the olive counter where they had olives stuffed with everything imaginable. Ahhhh.... I love fresh olives!

Mercado de San Miguel

Plaza Mayor

Our final night in Spain, we ate a superb dinner in Elizabeth's town of Alcala, a suburb of Madrid. She and her family so graciously hosted us for the night and took us to the airport the following day. I will treasure these memories with mi hermana mayor siempre. I am so fortunate to have not one, but two sisters, who love traveling as much as me, and to be able to spend time with them exploring new cultures and scenery is so special. Gracias per todo, mi hermana, y te amo mucho!

Svenskt Bröllop

2011-09-28T11:40:00.000+02:00

Two days after Clough Fest ended, we boarded a plane bound for Stockholm for my third visit to this beautiful city and Jon's first. I have been fortunate enough to meet the most wonderful international students at Baylor, due to my job in the International Office, and have kept in touch best with the Swedish exchange students from 2005. Especially with Maria. I knew we would have a special friendship the minute I met her. We shared so much in common; a competitive running spirit, a passion for food, a goofy/silly personality and a desire to live life large. During her four months at Baylor we were inseparable and I knew that although our friendship would someday span the ocean, we would keep in touch and I would visit her in Sweden someday. That finally came to fruition two years later when I moved to Germany and we had the first Texas Reunion in Sweden with all the other Swedish former exchange students. Since then she's visited our home twice, and I've returned a second time to Stockholm. This current visit, though, was special as it was to attend her wedding (or bröllop) to Jakob, another Swedish exchange student (although at TAMU) who I also met in 2005.

Me and Maria

Before the Svenskt Bröllop was to occur on Saturday, we planned to arrive a few days early to do some sight-seeing in Europe's most beautiful capital city between time hanging with our Swedish friends. Fortunately for us, the weather was perfect with plenty of sunshine and warmer temperatures. Stockholm spans 14 islands by the Stockholm archipelago, which means there's water everywhere. No matter what neighborhood you're in, there are bridges, canals and beautiful nature paths for walking and cycling along the water. At times, it's hard to believe you're in a city of almost 1.5 million. One of the most beautiful look-out points of the city is from the Skansen Open Air Museum, the oldest in Europe. This museum provides a look at Swedish life from the 1700s, with traditional farm houses, churches and other buildings moved here from throughout Sweden.

View of Stockholm from Skansen Open Air Museum

No trip to Stockholm is complete without a visit to its most famous building... the City Hall. This is where the Nobel Prize Banquet takes place and houses the government offices. The building was built in 1923 and appears to be almost situated in the water, with outstanding views of the old town, Gamla Stan.

Stockholm City Hall

Stockholm City Hall - posing with the Dala Horse

View of Gamla Stan from Stockholm City Hall

After touring the City Hall, we walked over to Gamla Stan, or the Old Town, situated on its own island. Here we saw the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace and enjoyed a delicious lunch of Swedish meatballs on the main square. We also visited the Vasa Museum, which houses the Vasa ship that sunk shortly after embarking in 1628. It was salvaged largely intact in 1961. Although it is nicknamed as "the great failure" it provides insight into life on a ship during that time period and the largeness of it and techniques used to built it are awe-inspiring.

Stockholm Royal Palace

Lunch on Gamla Stan

The day before the wedding, we spent our final evening in Stockholm visiting the island of Fjäderholmarna in the archipelago. Only a mere 30 minute boat ride from the center of Stockholm, and we were completely immersed in nature with the most beautiful vistas. We enjoyed walking around the small island and enjoying a delicious dinner of smoked salmon with the Swedish sun setting as our backdrop.

Fjäderholmarna boat dock

Fjäderholmarna

Dinner at Fjäderholmarna

Sunset at Fjäderholmarna

The day of the wedding, we enjoyed a morning run around the former royal island of Djurgarden. It was the perfect day for a wedding!

View of Strandvagan from Djurgarden bridge

The wedding took place in a suburb of Stockholm, about 30 minutes away. The ceremony was in an adorable and traditional chapel in the woods. The reception took place at the magnificent Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden. Both having studied in Texas, they share a love of the Lone Star State and especially its music. They incorporated several country music songs in the ceremony, to include "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "My Maria." It was absolutely beautiful and I felt so honored to be included in this special occasion.

Maria and Jakob's Ceremony (notice the singer wearing a cowboy hat)

Maria and Jakob exiting wedding chapel

The best part about the wedding, was that it became another Texas Reunion of Swedish friends. We were able to spend time with other BU friends, Richard and Peter, earlier in the week, but had more quality time at the wedding to catch up. I am so grateful for the opportunities to see my Swedish friends more regularly than if I was in the States, and am looking forward to many more reunions during the next two years.

Richard, Sofie and their adorable baby, Linea

My first Swedish friend, Peter

New friends, Stephanie and Anna (Maria's cousin)

Jon, Richard and Peter lookin' studly

Mr. and Mrs. Clough

The arrival of Maria and Jakob - what a beautiful couple!

Maria and Jakob arrived to the reception by boat. After champagne and hors d'oeuvre, we entered the banquet hall for dinner, where 3 hours of toasts commenced. Although it was all in Swedish, Jon and I were sitting by fabulous translators who shared the gist of all the speeches. I felt honored to be asked to give a speech as well. The dinner was superb and consisted of Swedish delicacies, to include a main course of reindeer. After dinner, it was time for brandy, coffee, and dessert in the library before a night of dancing began.

Reindeer.... it's what's for dinner

Me and my fabulous translator and dinner buddy, Richard

After the dancing ended at 2:00 a.m., a few of us felt the logical thing to do was go swimming. I will never forget the feeling of floating on my back in the water, looking at the dimly lit hotel with stars overhead and thinking, "I'm in Sweden, I experienced the wedding of one of my best friends, and I am happy beyond belief."

Me and Maria at brunch the following morning

Thank you, Maria, for including Jon and me in one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever experienced. We were so honored to attend and as I said in my speech, I will forever treasure our friendship that spans continents and endures the test of time. Din vän, alltid.

Clough Fest 2011

2011-09-26T15:08:00.000+02:00

This July, something extraordinary happened in the greater Clough family.... the Afri-Cloughs moved to Germany! After two years of being in Africa, Neil got at assignment to none other than Ramstein, Germany, a mere 3 hours away. It's still hard to believe that we have family so close by and we've been taking full advantage of it during the short two months they've been here. Neil and Emily came over in July, but their girls, Sybil, Shannon and Cassie, stayed with their grandparents for another month. They had the big job of delivering them at the end of August when we had a fantastic family reunion.

Cochem, along the Mosel River

We met up with them in the quaint town of Cochem along the Mosel River. The wine festival was just getting started there and we enjoyed touring around the adorable town, visiting their pretty hilltop castle and simply enjoying quality time with one another.

Jon and his parents outside our hotel balcony in Cochem

Cochem Castle

The Clough ladies at Cochem Castle

During the years of my courtship with Jon and marriage, I have loved spending time with his family. I am blessed with the most wonderful in-laws in the world, to include his loving and caring parents, hilarious and kind brothers, and two sisters-in-law I'm lucky enough to call friends. I am also fortunate enough to have three nieces, who have grown into three lovely young ladies over the past 10 years of knowing them, and one spirited nephew in North Carolina. While we've been in Europe and Neil's been all over the world, I was only able to spend time with my nieces on short visits to the family farm once every couple years. I'm now thrilled to be able to spend much more time with them over the next two years. Already in the short while they've been here I've managed to have the first of hopefully many slumber parties on pallets in the living room.

Burg Eltz

On our way from the Mosel back to Sittard, we first stopped at Burg Eltz to see my favorite castle in Europe. Unforunately, it was undergoing renovations and much of it was covered in scaffolding. Despite the crane and half the castle being covered, it's still an impressive sight to see in the midst of a beautiful forest complete with a winding creek through the valley.

Burg Eltz

Once back in Sittard, we enjoyed a weekend of togetherness with cook-outs, treks downtown to the St. Rosa Festival carnival, apple-picking and family quality time. On Saturday, we did venture to the Dreilandenpunt, or place where Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet. Along with an outdoor art exhibit, observance towers, restaurants and playgrounds, the area also has a labyrinth that is surprisingly challenging. My labyrinth team of Cassie, Jon and me (aka, the winners) managed to find our way out pretty easily, but only out of sheer luck. Others were not so fortunate and got stuck in the rain while we tried to guide them out of the never-ending maze of hedges from a look-out point.

Neil, Jon and David at the highest point in the Netherlands

The labyrinth at the Dreilandenpunt

Biking around Sittard

Like most weekends filled with good people and plenty of fun, our time together ended too quickly and Neil and his gang had to return to Ramstein for the start of school, and his parents had to return home to DC. We so enjoyed spending time all together and look forward to many more reunions in Germany and the Netherlands over the next two years!

Wiesbaden Wine Fest

2011-09-23T17:13:00.001+02:00

Immediately after returning from Texas at the end of July, I delved into the madness and crazy fun that is Vacation Bible School. I lead music and teach the kids a new song every day, which means I have to be full of non-stop energy for four hours each day. Despite my extreme exhaustion at the end of the week, I love spending time with all the precious kids and getting them excited about music. Three days after VBS ended, Jon returned home from his third mini-deployment this year. We celebrated by making plans to spend the upcoming weekend at the kick-off of the Wiesbaden Wine Festival. This is one of our favorite festivals in Wiesbaden and it's amazing how many different wine-makers set-up their tents around the market square. You could spend an entire week here (the festival lasts two) and not visit every single wine stand, but it's fun to try! Complete with three stages for music, tons of food vendors and delicious Riesling wine, we enjoyed livin' it up in Wiesbaden for a night.

The best part about it were the friends from GK that joined us. We were so thrilled to be able to show off our old home to some of our new friends. In one night and a half day, we managed to show them the highlights of the city with a tour of the downtown, the beautiful Kurhaus park and some of our favorite bars and restaurants.

A wine fest faux pas.... drinking beer!

We tried to entice our runner friends with a running tour of Wiesbaden on Saturday morning, but for some reason, they weren't feeling quite up to it. Although going back to Wiesbaden can be quite painful, knowing our home and friends aren't there anymore, I'm so grateful for the opportunity we had to live there. Despite its many differences, we certainly appreciate where we are now and the incredible friends we've made.

An old friend with new friends

Finally a Master

2011-09-23T17:13:00.000+02:00

That's right, folks, I, Cathleen Clough, finally received my Master of Arts with an emphasis in International Relations. When I moved to Europe in 2007 and learned about the OU program, I decided this would be the perfect time in my life to get a Master's as I'm not working full-time. A year later I finally started the program and three long years later, I finished it. Needless to say, countless trips gallivanting around Europe became quite a distraction and prolonged the program much longer than I anticipated. I was so thrilled to receive my official diploma in late July and am even more thrilled to be able to brag to my husband that I am smarter than him. At least temporarily.

My Hot, Hot, Hot Time in Texas

2011-09-23T16:39:00.000+02:00

It feels like it's been an eternity since I boarded a plane bound for blazin' hot Texas on July 12th. And in a way it has. There has been so much happening the past two months and with many travels comes a lack of blogging. I'm finally getting around to updating all that's been taking place during the second half of our summer. My two weeks in Texas flew by too fast, as usual, but I made the most of them visiting lots of family and friends when I could. The main reason for going back was to attend my sweet Gran's 90th birthday. She is one incredible lady with so much energy and I of course wanted to be there during this special occasion to honor her life. And the best part was that it was a total surprise! I arrived first in Austin to spend three glorious days with Laurel, Jason and my adorable nephew. Braxton, then 10 months, had grown so much since the last time I saw him five months later. I felt so fortunate to be able to experience his first plane ride as we flew from Austin to Dallas, met up with Mandy, and continued on to Mobile, Alabama.

Braxton and me on the plane from Austin to Dallas

Mandy and me at Gran's apartment shortly after arriving in Mobile

Our Catlin family reunion in Mobile was so much fun and I loved every minute I had to spend with my sisters, our parents, and Alabama family who we don't get to see often enough. The big party was on Saturday afternoon and there were over 80 people in attendance to help celebrate my grandmother's birthday. Although she's out-lived most of her best friends, it's evident that she still has so many people that love her and want to honor the wonderful person she is.

Gran's beautiful birthday cake

Gran, Braxton, Laurel and cousin Brian

The Catlin Clan

On Sunday, we all attended church together and had brunch at Gran's retirement community. It was definitely a bittersweet day, knowing that we would all go our separate ways once more. I was so grateful for the decision and opportunity I had to go Stateside for this occasion. Being surrounded by family is the most uplifting feeling there is and I wouldn't have traded this weekend for anything.

Braxton with his Bumpa

Gran and her grandchildren

Back in Texas, I continued my tour of the State by spending some time at home in Bryan. I love nothing more than to spend lazy days at the house by the pool, hangin' with my parents, eating lots of Tex-Mex and catching up with neighbors and friends. Unfortunately, I didn't get enough time to do just that, but I did manage to make a side-trip to Houston to see two of my dearest childhood friends. Allison and JW took me out to an incredible dinner at Haven and afterward we hit up some bars and had the best time catching up and planning their imminent trip to Europe. I spent the following day with Kelly and we enjoyed story-swapping over lunch and, of course, I love spending time with her adorable toddler, Allison. Although I wish more of my friends lived closer to Bryan, I am so glad these two friends are very near, which at least makes short visits possible.

Allison and me

Back in Bryan, I spent my last weekend in Texas hangin' with two my my favorite people.... my parents. I mean honestly, how did I get so lucky to have parents that I truly LOVE spending time with and have so much FUN with?! I raced back from Houston on Friday in time to meet them at a new wine bar downtown before having a delicious dinner at one of my favorite downtown restaurants. Before I knew it, the weekend was over and I was off to Dallas for my last three days of Texas heat before crossing the pond once more.

Me and my dad, Lar

Luckily, Laurel had a work conference in Dallas during that time, so I got to spend my last few days with two more of my favorite people.... both sisters. We spent our evenings doing our favorite things....., eating at fabulous restaurants, shopping and LOTS of laughing. My last night we met up with... yep, you guessed it, two MORE of my favorite people (my list might be long, but trust me, not all my friends get the title 'favorite'). Judy and Claudia, who were first my mom's friends, but luckily I inherited their friendship as well, were so sweet to drive downtown to partake in a girls fest. We always have so much fun with these ladies and it was the perfect ending to a perfect trip.

Me with Mandy, Judy, Claudia and Laurel

As usual, the waterworks came at the end of the night with my two sisters, but I simply feel fortunate that I have two people I care enough about that it always hurts to say good-bye, no matter how many times we've done it. Although it was scorching-hot and Texas was in the middle of their record-breaking summer heat, I loved seeing constant sunshine and getting to make the most of my summer wardrobe. Thanks to all my family and friends who made my time home so meaningful. Can't wait to be back!

Rock, Flag and Eagle Extravaganza II

2011-08-17T14:06:00.001+02:00

Five days after returning home from Portugal, it was time for yet another 4th of July bash. We enjoyed hosting our Rock, Flag and Eagle Extravaganza for friends and neighbors so much last year, that we decided to make it an annual event. Like last year, we were blessed with perfect warm weather and sunshine. Although many of our friends were traveling during this time and not able to attend, we still had a larger turn-out than last year and with everyone's willingness to pitch in, a delicious feast. In addition to burgers, dogs, numerous sides, desserts and even a salsa bar, we had drinks galore, a reading by Jon of the Declaration of Independence, an ultimate death egg and spoon relay race, a water balloon toss and for the finale, a pinata-bashing (kid-themed and adult-themed). It was an absolute blast and I think our Dutch neighbors get a kick out of seeing a bunch of adults acting like children during the games. As usual, Jon and I are so busy hosting that we never think to take pics while the party is in full swing, but here are some pics of the decorations and set-up for the party.

I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy

Dessert table garnished with USA tattoos

Sides table

Terrace seating

Backyard seating

Kids enjoying the 'kid pinata'

We couldn't be happier to celebrate such a special U.S. holiday with our friends and neighbors while living abroad and are already looking forward to next year.... Rock, Flag and Eagle III!

EXpLortugal: Where Land Ends and the Sea Begins

2011-08-17T13:14:00.002+02:00

The last week in June, Jon and I embarked on a journey amidst a ramshackle capital, a landscape of endless cork trees, and desolate beaches that meet the "sea of darkness" while exploring the beautiful southern part of Portugal (dubbed 'ExpLortugal' during our trip). The adventure began in the bustling metropolis of Lisbon, that felt more like several villages jammed together than one large city, due to the many distinct neighborhoods. Lisbon is the San Francisco of Portugal, with a long red suspension bridge over the Tejo River, a hilly landscape with trolleys and furniculars, and the unfortunate susceptibility to earthquakes. The most famous earthquake in Lisbon history occurred in 1755 and leveled two-thirds of the city. You would never know this tragic history today with the superb renovation and gorgeous architecture that abounds throughout the city.

Our first day, we visited the Belem District where we explored sites from Portugal's Golden Age as a naval superpower. Belem was the send-off point for voyages in the Age of Discovery and the grand buildings of this district survived the 1755 earthquake, allowing one to experience the grandeur of pre-earthquake Lisbon.

Strolling through the Praca do Imperia of Belem

The commanding Monastery of Jeronimos was built in the early 1500s by King Manuel I as a "thank you" for the discoveries made by early Portuguese explorers. The Manueline architecture, unique to Portugal, reflects the wealth of the times. Inside the church is Vasco de Gama's tomb, the famous explorer who found a direct sea route to Asia. The highlight of the Monastery are the beautifully restored cloisters - a mix of Manueline, Renaissance and Rococo styles.

Monastery of Jeronimos

Monastery of Jeronimos Cloisters

Next we learned about various ships and navigational tools used during the Age of Discovery at the Maritime Museum. It was incredible to see how scientific these tools were in the 1400s and learning about their techniques for navigation allowed us to appreciate the accomplishments of these explorers even more. We paid homage to these explorers at the Monument to the Discoveries on the Tejo River. The monument honors the team effort that existed for these voyages to take place. Henry the Navigator is leading the charge, with other explorers of the era behind him, with those who financed the expeditions behind them, and finally, those who glorified them in songs and poems. A huge map inlaid in the concrete shows the various places Portugal explored and colonized during that era. It is incredible to see the impact this small country had around the world, to include Africa, Asia and South America.

Monument to the Discoveries overlooking the Tejo River

Monument to the Discoveries

On the top of the Monument to the Discoveries, we had a great viewpoint of the Monastery behind us, and the Belem Tower to the right of us where the Tejo River and harbor meet. Built in 1515, this tower protected Lisbon's harbor, and today symbolizes the voyages that made Lisbon powerful.

Belem Tower

View atop the Monument to the Discoveries overlooking the Monastery of Jeronimos

After our morning in Belem, we headed back to Central Lisbon to explore the Alfama neighborhood. This is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon and was a bustling district during Moorish times and later became the home of Lisbon's fishermen and mariners. We began our tour of the Alfama at the Sao Jorge Castle, first built by the Moors in the 11th century. Although there are only craggy ruins to see today, the terrace outlook provides the best views of Lisbon.

View from Sao Jorge Castle overlooking Lisbon's Praca do Comercio

Sao Jorge Castle

View of ramshackle Lisbon from Sao Jorge Castle

Sao Jorge Castle

View of Sao Jorge Castle from the Chiado district

While strolling around the Alfama neighborhood and experiencing its Old World charm, we stumbled upon a fun, eclectic restaurant with gorgeous sunset views of the Tejo River. Connected to a circus school, we were able to dine with entertainment as the trapeze students were rehearsing on the patio stage. Not your typical dinner, but a wonderful glimpse of the trendy, international crowd of Lisbon.

Alfama neighborhood

Dinner at Resto do Chapito

Our second full day in Lisbon, we took the 30-minute train ride to medieval Sintra - the summer escape of Portugal's kings. Only 15 miles northwest of Lisbon, Sintra is a fairytale village amidst a lush hilly landscape. We first visited the National Palace, located right in town, and is the oldest surviving royal palace in Portugal. Although it was full of history and had some breath-takaking rooms with intricate tile work, this palace did not compare with the fantastical Pena Palace. King Ferdinand of Portugal wanted to build a 'magical hilltop palace' in the 1800s, and it's no wonder that he is related to Mad King Ludwig in Bavaria. Craziness runs in the family, perhaps? Like Nueschwanstein castle in Bavaria, Pena Palace, which mixes German and Portuguese style, is fanciful beyond belief. But also like Nueschwanstein, it's a must-see for those who can appreciate the need for a little bit of fantasy in the modern world.

Outside National Palace entrance in Sintra

Pena Palace

Pena Palace entrance

Pena Palace

After touring the palace, we explored the beautifully lush and sprawling palace grounds. We had no idea this park would be so huge and were bummed we didn't have our trail shoes to incorporate a run. We made the most of our time and visited the romantic surprises scattered throughout the park to include chapels, a temple, lakes and exotic plants. We even ventured to the High Cross, which is the highest point around, and provides gorgeous views of the Pena Palace.

View of Pena Palace from the High Cross

View of Pena Palace from palace grounds

Pena Palace Park

Our last night in Lisbon, we managed to fit in a Fado concert taking place in a church, as part of the Festas de Lisbao (Lisbon Festival). I did not want to miss an opportunity to experience Portugal's native folk music with themes of sadness and hope. Although we only caught the very end of the concert, I was able to lose myself just for a moment in the harmonious strum of the guitars played in a melancholy minor key echoing through the church. Afterward, we enjoyed a night filled with a delicious dinner on the steps of the Chaido district, a stroll through the Baixa neighborhood down to the Tejo River, and a night of dancing at the hipster bars of the Barrio Alto. I was not ready for our time in Lisbon to come to an end, but if Portugal had surprised us this pleasantly so far, I was excited to see what else was in store further south.

Dinner on the Chiado steps

The Arch of Triumph in the Baxia district

Praca do Comercio

Next on our 'EXpLortugal' itinerary was the interior town of Evora. Located in the southern region of Alentejo, historic Evora has been a cultural oasis for 2,000 years. Before arriving in Evora, we stopped 20 minutes away at the site of the Cromeleque dos Almendres, or Portuguese Stone Henge. Dating about 2,000 B.C., these 92 granite stones are erected in the shape of an oval where sun-worshippers would gather at this pagan sanctuary. Although it was amazing to see something this old, it was after all, just a bunch of rocks, and I was much more impressed by the beautiful arid landscape filled with cork trees. The Alentejo region is known for producing cork and Portugal actually produces more than half the world's supply of cork. However, cork isn't only used for bottle stoppers, but while touring Evora, we saw cork hats, purses, vests and a plethora of other quirky cork items.

Cromeleque dos Almendres

Evora does have a couple must-see sights, such as the Roman temple and bone chapel, but mostly it's a beautiful, traditional town that allows the opportunity to explore everyday Portuguese life. The charming colors throughout the town are typical of the Alentejo region with white buildings and yellow trim, thought to repel evil spirits. We enjoyed meandering around the cobbled lanes of the town, people watching at a cafe in the main square, and the most delicious dinner we've had yet in Portugal. Although it was titled tomato soup the description sounded incredible, and when it came out, it looked like the Mexican brunch dish 'juevos rancheros' in soup version. Accompanied with salty pork, olives and wine straight from the barrel, it was an unforgettable dinner.

Evora main square

Evora by night

Dinner in Evora

Evora by night

Roman Temple in Evora

After a post-dinner stroll through romantically lit Evora, we headed back to our gorgeous pousada (or historic hotel), which was formerly a 15th century monastery. Complete with numerous lounges, courtyards and a swimming pool, this hotel served as an oasis to escape the mid-afternoon heat, and recuperate from our non-stop action in Lisbon. I simply wish we had longer to enjoy this beautiful hideaway, but it was once again time to hit the road, so we could hit the beach.

Pousada dos Loios

From the hot, arid plains of Evora, we drove to the windy southwestern most part of Portugal, Cape Sagres. As the spot closest to the edge of the Earth, it was the perfect place for Prince Henry the Navigator to found his navigators' school in 1420. Although little remains today, it was fascinating to walk within the fort and view the massive wind-compass on the ground. During our stay in the southern Algarve region, we stayed in the sleepy, fishing village of Salema. Once again, we seemed to find the favorite place of the Brits on holiday and managed to be the only Americans around. As soon as we arrived in Salema and checked into our apartment, we walked down the street to the Salema beach. With the historic sights of our trip behind us, now the relaxation portion could begin. For the next two days, the only decisions we had to make were, which beaches did we want to explore and what restaurant do we want to try next.

Cape Sagres

After our first afternoon at the local beach, the next day we decided to venture to the secluded beach, Praia do Castelejo. It was described as a Fiji-like beach, and never have gone to Fiji, I wasn't sure what to expect, but once we got there..... WOW! Secluded didn't seem to quite cover it, concealed seemed the more appropriate description as there was no one else there. We truly had our own private hideaway on this endless beach with waves crashing against the sporadic jagged rock outcrops and rugged cliffs cascading into the sand. Another added bonus was an amazing restaurant on one end of the beach. This place was neither secluded nor concealed, and we soon found out why. The...food....was....sublime! We ordered the famous 'cataplana,' or octopus stew cooked with vegetables in a copper pot. Not being a huge sea-food fan, I couldn't get enough of this Portuguese twist to serving sea food. And the fresh catch around these parts? Lots of octopus!

Praia do Castelejo

Jon doing his pose atop a rock on Praia do Castelejo

Praia do Castelejo

Lunch at Praia do Castelejo

Our second beach day, we explored Ingrina and Zavial. We enjoyed another fantastically delicious Portuguese style seafood lunch of spicy garlic prawns at the small Ingrina beach first. Afterward, we headed to the vast Zavial beach, which was my favorite of all the beaches we visited. Its long beach, craggy cliffs, and beautiful water in a protected cove all combined to make this the perfect beach. Once again, it wasn't overly crowded and we managed to get our own area of umbrella and chairs right next to the nude section of the beach. Lucky us! Or, not so lucky I should day. Although I didn't want to look, it's like watching a train wreck, you can't look away! I have to wonder, why is it always the people who you wouldn't want to see naked that frequent these beaches with such self-confidence. Our position definitely provided some afternoon entertainment.

Lunch at Ingrina Beach

Zavial Beach

Salema Night

Our final night in Salema, our nightlife consisted of grabbing a bench on the promenade at sunset, gazing across the sea of darkness while seated on the edge of the world. In our one week in Portugal, we managed to visit the sights of the famous explorers from the Age of Discovery in Lisbon, ponder the life of Portuguese royalty in Sintra, travel to the Alentejo region of cork trees and traditional villages, and bask in the sun along the Algarve coast. EXpLortugal!

A Tea Party in the Orchard

2011-07-01T22:19:00.000+02:00

I had the honor of helping to host my friend, Hoaly's, baby shower two weeks ago. She shared with me that she wanted to have a "High Tea" as her theme with close friends, and when I offered the idea to have tea in our orchard, she jumped at the chance. I had so much fun looking for tea cups and tea pots at second hand stores, and it was the perfect opportunity for me to acquire a very girly tea set I'd been wanting from Dutch designers, PiP Studio.

High Tea in the Orchard Honoring Hoaly

I also had the opportunity to make a diaper cake with my fellow hostess, Julie. Needless to say it was a first for us both, two very non-crafty people, but we still managed to put it together with tape and string instead of rubber bands (who keeps that many rubber bands on hand anyway?). As the day for the shower got close, we realized that we could possibly not only be having a baby shower in the orchard, but also some intermittent rain showers. We decided to take the risk and set everything up outside anyway as there were very optimistic pockets of sunshine. Hoaly arrived a little early, thankfully, and was able to take some pics outside of the set-up while the sun was shining. Unfortunately, I was running around like a chicken with her head cut off with the final preparations and was unable to snap any pictures. The beautiful pics in this blog are credited to Hoaly's gifted husband, Nigel, and our should-be-professional friend, Liz.

Entrance to the Orchard

Sweets Table

Table complete with name cards

We also had a chandelier and pink balloons hanging from the trees to add a whimsical touch

At the strike of noon, the beginning of the shower, the rain came. We decided to eat our lunch inside and when the rain started to clear, we headed down to the orchard for tea and desserts. The table was soaked and we had to sit on towels, but it was still lovely.

Soaked table

Soaked table and name cards

Baby Shower Guests

We played baby games and started to open gifts when the sky turned grey once more and rain started to drop. We finished the presents inside and although everyone had to do a bit of running back and forth, it was a successful tea party in the orchard. I hope to make this an annual event now that I have all the decor and tea sets ready to go. I had so much fun being a hostess and was thrilled to be able to honor Hoaly in this momentous time in her life.

Hoaly playing the game "pin the sperm on the egg"

Provençal Paradise

2011-06-30T13:30:00.000+02:00

It's only the end of June, and already it feels like we've had a packed summer. It began with the incredible (and unusual) summer-like weather we had in April and May and continued with a slue of great travelin' when my parents came to visit us in early June. Since then, we've traveled to Portugal for a week, hosted an orchard tea party, and are now in last minute prep mode for our Independence Day bash. But before sharing these wonderful experiences, we must first complete Part II of the Catlins trip.... Provence!

Start of lavender blooms in Les Baux. Lavender is in full bloom in late June - July

After a few days in the Netherlands, we ventured to the south of France to experience the Provençal way of life. On my "must see" list, I have wanted to visit this area renown for its lavender fields, excellent wine and cuisine, and an overall typical glimpse of French country life. The three jam-packed days of sight-seeing and village hopping did not disappoint, despite the weather, complete with high-intensity Mistral winds on the first day and intermittent rain the next two days. Our adventure began in the town of Arles, once a key stop on the Roman road from Italy to Spain, with numerous impressive Roman ruins. This arena was once used as a stage for gladiators and the ruins of the classical theater once seated 10,000.

Roman Arena of Arles

Monkeying around on the Roman Arena in Arles

Roman Arena in Arles

After pondering the ancient Roman life in Arles, we stumbled upon the Roman Aqueduct of Barbegal while driving to Les Baux. This aqueduct stretches across a country road and although is today nothing more than craggy rocks, it was incredible to see something this old and once a major source of water nestled in the French countryside.

An aqua-duck on an aqueduct

Roman Aqueduct of Barbegal

We continued to the hilltop town of Le Baux where we enjoyed meandering through the cobbled streets of this once medieval city. At the top of the town lies the castle ruins or, "Dead City," a once powerful town of 4,000. The views from the top were incredible and although we were almost blown away by the Mistral wind, we managed to tour the entire hilltop complex and imagine what life must have been like for those who lived among this fortified city.

Les Baux cobbled streets

View from the top of the castle ruins in Les Baux

View of the Lower Town of Les Baux with the rugged Alpilles Mountains in the distance

Lower Town of Les Baux

Our Provencal country experience was enhanced even more by the opportunity to stay in an 100-year-old French farmhouse. It was absolutely beautiful, located about 10 minutes from l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, with beautiful decor, spacious lounges, a courtyard, and family-style dinners each night. The first night, we enjoyed an amazing meal with a group of Germans also staying at the hotel. And, no French meal is complete without a round of cheese before dessert.

Jon doing his best "snooty French" face

Our second day, we visited the nearby city of Avignon, home to the Palace of the Popes. During the 1300s, Avignon starred as the Franco Vaticano until 1417 when the Vatican resumed its role. Unfortunately, there was a rose festival taking place there, so we were not able to enter, but still enjoyed visiting the Avignon Cathedral and wandering through the Parc de Rochers des Doms to spectacular views of the mighty Rhone River.

Overlooking the Place du Palais in Avignon

Parc des Rochers des Doms

From the top of the park, we had great views of the Rhone River and St. Benezet Bridge that crossed the entire river until 1668 when a flood destroyed half of it. Now it hangs out halfway over the river as a reminder of history and inspiration of a French nursery rhyme. We clambered down the ramparts to a street-level view of the "bridge" that today looks like an ancient dock for oversized boats jetting out into the river like a hang-nail.

View of St. Benezet Bridge from the Parc de Rochers des Doms

Ramparts of Avignon

St. Benezet Bridge

Being a large city, the street atmosphere was quite active, and we enjoyed walking around the city, browsing in shops, and eating lunch in the lively square.

Place de l'Horloge

Posing between raindrops at the Avignon Waterwheel

The 'awe factor' of the trip came during our visit to the mighty and majestic Pont du Gard. This perfectly preserved Roman aqueduct was built as the critical link of a 30-mile canal that, by dropping one inch for every 350 feet, supplied 9 million gallons of water per day to Nimes. This is the second highest standing Roman structure, second only to the Colosseum. Ninety percent of the aqueduct is on or under the ground, but a few river canyons like this required bridges. This truly is a magnificent sight and one can't help but feel so small when under it, and wonder in awe at the ability of these Romans to build such a precise engineering feat in ancient times. When Jon learned the aqueduct was over a river, he expressed his interest in swimming in it. I thought that surely when he saw that no one else was swimming on this rainy day, he would change his mind, but as I should know by now, when he says he's going to do something, he's going to do it!

Pont du Gard

Jon swimming at the Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard

To round out our site-packed day, we drove in to the village of l'Isle sur-la-Sorgue, just a short distance from our accommodation. This sleepy town in the Luberon Hills is considered the "Venice of Provence," as it's situated on the Sorgue River. Walking along the river as night fell was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Our last day in Provence was spent exploring the Luberon hill town of Roussillon and the Cote du Rhone area, famous for its wine. Situated on a hilltop with ochre-colored buildings, Roussillon did not feel like the rest of the Provencal villages we had visited with stone buildings and various shades of blue on the doors and shutters. This village is surrounded by lush vegetation and built from rustic red stones from the nearby ochre deposits and seemed more like it belonged in Costa Rica than southern France. It was a completely charming village and the colorful buildings were a welcome change from the typical Provencal design.

Roussillon

After a morning in Roussillon, we took the scenic route to the Cotes du Rhone wine region crossing through a vast national park area. The scenery was breath-taking and eventually we made it to our destination of Gigondas, a small village that produces the regions best reds. We enjoyed a fantastic picnic overlooking the village and savoring all things French. Afterward, we stopped by the Domaine de Durban to purchase their popular Muscat de Venise, and stopped in the nearby town of Beaumes-de-Venise for some souvenir shopping. It was the perfect relaxing day and culmination to our action-packed few days in France - exploring all things Provencal in this French countryside paradise.

Provencal picnic in Gigondas

A final farewell in Beaumes-de-Venise

Thank you for taking part in this wonderful journey with us, Lar and Charm. You are greatly missed and we can't wait to travel with you again!

Dutch Days with the Catlins

2011-06-16T10:45:00.000+02:00

Two of our favorite travel partners arrived at the end of May for more adventures in Europe; my incredibly cool parents, Lar and Charm! We always have so much fun when they come to visit and I'm so blessed that they make it over as often as they do. There's nothing like having your family to travel with! Jon returned from Sicily the night before their arrival, so he was actually able to be around during their entire visit. After picking my parents up from the Amsterdam airport, we jetted into the city for a day and night, as my dad had never been there. Although there was a bit of rain during the day, by the evening the skies had cleared and it turned out to be a beautiful night.

My two awesome parents, Lar and Charm, fresh off the plane

Lar and Charm

Outside the Rijksmuseum where we saw the Dutch Golden Age masterpieces

After a busy day of walking around Amsterdam and visiting the Rijksmuseum, flower market, Dam Square and Anne Frank House, we headed to dinner in the beautiful Jordaan neighborhood. I had not visited this neighborhood before, and we enjoyed roaming along the quaint canal-lined streets filled with beautiful flowers and window boxes.

Outside our fantastic restaurant in the Jordaan Neighborhood

Roaming the Jordaan Neighborhood

Later, we headed to the Red Light District for a post-dinner stroll. It was a lot more lively than the previous times I'd wandered through this area. That may be in part to the fact that I've only visited here twice before, both times in the afternoon. As we were here past 8:00 p.m., there were many more ladies in the windows and I noticed many things that somehow don't draw your attention in the daytime. Needless to say, it was somewhat of an interesting place to be with your parents, but it was a cultural experience, I suppose.

Entering the narrow gauntlet that is the heart of the Red Light District

Red Light District

Amsterdam at Night

All in all, it was a great day and night in Amsterdam, and although the weather wasn't perfect, at least we didn't experience the horrendous wind and rain like the May 2010 visit. We continued on our Dutch tour with a stop in Delft, with its impressive market square, old and new church, beautiful canals and antique markets. After a few hours, we hopped on a ferry to visit the famed Kinderdijk, water management system. Nothing says "Holland" like windmills, so it was great to see so many in one place, many dated from 1740.

Delft Market Square

Kinderdijk

After our short visit to the Zuid Holland region, we returned to Limburg and our home in Sittard. The following day, we rose bright and early to trek to the antique market in Tongeren. Jon and I had experienced this once before, but wanted my parents to see the massive display of antiques lining the streets of Belgium's oldest city. Unfortunately, we didn't find any treasures, but it was a beautiful day to be out and about. From Tongeren we went to Margraten to take part in the Memorial Day Service at the American Cemetery. Over 8,000 American soldiers are buried here from WWII. It was a very moving experience and I'm so grateful that we were able to share it with my parents. Memorial Day in the States seems to be just another holiday, but here in Europe, we have the opportunity to visit these American cemeteries and remember those who sacrificed and continue to do so today, which is what the holiday is all about.

Netherlands American Cemetery

We had two down days in Sittard before our trip to Provence, France, and we made the most of the beautiful weather by biking to the market, eating at beautiful country-side cafes, runs with my dad and simply enjoying the local area. I was so proud of my mom for biking with me several times over her two-week visit, considering she hadn't been on a bike in over 30 years! She had a bit of a tumble in some bushes her first time out, but we'll blame it on those pesky coaster back-pedal brakes. She laughed it off, got right back on again, and mastered the Dutch bike tradition of riding wherever you go.

Sittard Market Square

Biking from the square to the house

Our final meal together as four

After 9 days of hangin' in the Netherlands and France, my dad had to journey back to the States. It was sad to see him go, but at least my mom got to stick around for another week. Thanks for being so go with the flow and up for whatever during your time here, Lar and Charm. We love you so much and can't wait for you to return for yet another visit already!

A Week in Sicily

2011-06-06T10:16:00.001+02:00

"To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Segesta, Sicily

While Jon was enduring a month of "combat tourism" in Sicily in May, I was at home in the Netherlands having to hear about his quests to finding the most delicious fresh seafood restaurant, his trips to the beach and the access to yummy cannoli. After a while, I couldn't take it anymore, and headed on a direct RyanAir flight from Maastricht (NL) to Trapani (Sicily) for one week of Sicilian bliss. Although Jon did have to work at times, we were able to spend a lot of time together, and luckily, there is a multitude of sights to see within a one-hour radius of Marsala, where he was staying.

Sicily was described to us by a Northern Italian we met, as a "rougher, scruffier Italy." This was apparent walking around Marsala and the lack of sidewalks, trash strewn about. constant horn-honking, and generally, a more gruff attitude than what I'm used to in northern Italy. However, once inside the pristine old town, or on the white sand beach, you seem to forget about these things and fall in love with the beautiful countryside that has so much to offer.

After two days of exploring Marsala, we headed to San Vito Lo Capo for a beach bum day. The water was the most beautiful turquoise color and the white sandy beach was pristine. I hadn't been to a beach in so long, and was pleasantly surprised by this beautiful paradise, only 45 minutes from Marsala.

After being at the beach for several hours, we explored the small village of San Vito and enjoyed some afternoon gelato. Jon tried the local favorite "brioche" which is ice cream in a bread bun. I think I'll stick to mine in a cone.

A beautiful vista on the road from San Vito Lo Capo

Erice street

After the beach, we made a stop to the medieval hilltop village of Erice. The narrow cobbled streets and fortress ruins were impressive, but the most amazing thing about this city is its situation on the top of a mountain. The views were spectacular of the Sicilian coastline and city of Trapani below.

Erice fortress

View from Erice

Another excursion included visiting the nearby Mozia salt flats and trekking to the ancient ruins of Segesta. Salt is still in production today in these ponds on the outskirt of Marsala. They are already beginning to change their hue, but supposedly in late June, the ponds turn bright pink. The old windmills that used to power the production are beautifully lit at night.

The ancient ruins of Segesta was at one time the home of the Elymian people, one of three indigenous people in Sicily. The population was mixed Elymian and Greek. The sites are divided in two with the temple on one side of the mountain and the ampitheatre and other civic structures on the other side. The impressively massive Doric temple dates from the 5th century.

Segesta - the Doric temple in the background

Segesta with the Doric temple

Segesta - Doric temple

At the top of Segesta, looking out across the Sicilian countryside

Segesta ampitheatre

Segesta ampitheatre - striking a god-like pose with our Danish friend, Rune

It had been a couple days since we'd hit the beach, so it was time for another water-related adventure. We took the 40-minute ferry from the Marsala harbor to the island of Favignana and had a day to explore the gorgeous coastline via a scooter. We ventured off the main roads of the island and traversed down the bumpy and rocky dirt roads to explore the coves and beaches of Cala Rossa, Cala Azzura and Cala Rotonda. The views from the rocky and craggy Cala Rossa were magnificent and I had never seen water so vibrantly turquoise. We enjoyed exploring the nooks and crannies of the rocks by the water and the many passageways along the coast.

Cala Rossa

Cala Azurra was a small, sandy beach that all the other tourists in town seemed to know about, so after a quick visit, we continued on to Cala Rotonda.

Our ride on Favignana island

Cala Azzura

At Cala Rotonda, we managed to find a small cove around the corner from where the other beach bums were, and enjoyed our own private hideaway. It was the absolute perfect day and is exactly how I like to explore beaches; immersed in nature, away from others, with the most beautiful horizons in the distance.

Cala Rotonda

On my last day in Sicily, we visited the nearby town of Trapani. I was surprised by how nice, clean and beautiful this Sicilian city was. The only downside is that we visited in the middle of the day, so only had about 30 minutes to shop before everything closed up. The Sicilians take their siesta very seriously and ALL shops and many restaurants close down completely from 1:00 until about 4:00 or 5:00 in the afternoon.

Trapani

We took the scenic route back from Trapani to Marsala, and meandered through the hillside vineyards surrounding the area. Marsala is well-known for its sweet wine, and although very few vineyards still make this particular kind of wine, the region is still known for its excellent quality of wine. Once back in Marsala, we visited the Donna Fugata winery for a tour and to taste some of their wines. We definitely found some new favorites and Jon was able to bring some home to add to our collection.

Exploring the vineyards around Marsala

Donna Fugata winery

View outside the Enoteca in Marsala

One of the highlights of the trip was partaking in a wine tasting at an Enoteca in the center of Marsala, arranged by one of the Italian guys. The flight crew was nice enough to allow me to tag along and we enjoyed an evening learning about the various wines of the Sicilian area.

"Cin-Cin" from Marsala!

The guys at a wine-tasting - combat tourism at its best

My week in Sicily was better than I ever dreamed and I came home feeling like I really had been on vacation. And a bonus was that I got to spend time and have more adventures with my amazing husband - all while he was working. I could really get used to this and am already looking forward to hopefully returning again when he's next spending time in Sicily. It truly is a taste of Italy so unlike anything else I had experienced in my previous travels to this magnificent country. Grazie mille, Sicilia!

Marsala piazza

Budapest: An EASTERn European Weekend

2011-05-11T18:01:00.000+02:00

View of Pest and Parliament from the Fisherman's Bastion

Jon and I spent Easter weekend in the breathtakingly beautiful and vibrant city of Budapest. This destination has been on out list as a "must-see" for quite some time and we were thrilled to finally be able to visit this Eastern European jewel. By the end of our three-night stay, we had fallen in love with this city, which we both feel is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Of course, it did help that we had sunny skies and warm weather our entire stay. After arriving on Friday morning and checking into our hotel, we immediately dropped our bags and began exploring the city. First stop.... Buda!

Castle Hill: It's a Buda Thing

Although the city is officially known as Budapest, once there, everything is designated by Buda or Pest depending on what side of the Danube River you're referring to. Hilly Buda is dominated by Castle Hill, while flat Pest is the commercial heart of the city. We spent our first afternoon in Buda after hiking across the Chain Bridge, which opened in 1849 and was the first permanent dry link between Buda and Pest.

Chain Bridge

Once at the top of the hill, we immediately were in awe of the gorgeous neo-gothic architecture of Matthias Church. A statue of St. Stephen, the first Christian King in Hungary who tamed the nomadic, pagan Magyars, looks on to the church.

Matthias Church

Directly across from the church lies the Fishermen's Bastion, a neo-romanesque fantasy rampart that offers beautiful views over the Danube to Pest. Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes. One of the towers has been converted into a cafe, and provided the perfect afternoon refreshment with the most outstanding views. We spent our time practicing the pronunciation for the Hungarian word for cheers, Egeszegedre. We also learned that clinking glasses is a no-no, as it is believed that's what the Hapsburgs did after executing the revolutionaries of 1849.

Fishermen's Bastion

At the cafe in one of the towers of Fishermen's Bastion

Sipping a glass of Rose with an outstanding view below

Our afternoon exploring Castle Hill was all about taking the time to smell the roses. We enjoyed meandering down the cobbled medieval streets and stumbled upon a labyrinth of Buda Castle. These miles of caves burrowed under Castle Hill have been used for centuries, but now is a conceptual exhibit that traces human history. After returning above ground at the end of the labyrinth tour, we found ourselves descending below ground yet again into a wine cellar in the Hilton Hotel, which was built upon Dominican cloister ruins. We learned a great deal about the Hungarian wines including the famed "Bull's Blood" red wine, which was our favorite. During our wine-tasting, we enjoyed reading about the controversy of the Hilton Hotel and its construction in 1976, as the first plush Western hotel in town. Part of the controversy was the modern facade on one side of the hotel that is directly next to the historical Matthias church. However, fragments of the 13th-century Dominican cloister were incorporated into the structure of the hotel

Communist-era Trabants are still quite common on the streets of Budapest

Matthias church reflected in the glassy, modern Hilton Hotel

After our delightful afternoon in Buda, we crossed back over the Chain Bridge to Pest amidst a glorious sunset

Budapest by Bike

Our favorite way to tour a large European city is by bike and Budapest was no exception. We started our Saturday off right by participating in a 3-hour tour of both Pest and Buda, with Yellow Zebra Bike Tours, and were able to see a ton. After meeting at their shop behind the majestic Hungarian State Opera House, we continued down the main boulevard of Pest, the Andrassy ut, to Heroe's Square. After receiving a crash course in Hungarian history through the explanation of the many statues, we continued on to the lush City Park. Among other sites we saw on the tour included Parliament, the only remaining Soviet statue still standing in the city, and once again, the Castle Hill sites.

Heroe's Square

Our bike tour in front of Vajdahunyad Castle

As usual, Jon was the entertainer of our tour, wow-ing everyone with his many bike tricks

The Life Aquatic

Although the Danube is Budapest's most famous body of water, it's the therapeutic water spewed up daily by 100-odd hot springs that sets local and tourists hearts aflutter. There are over a dozen thermal baths in the city, and Szechenyi Baths is the best. Having lived in Wiesbaden, where thermal springs also abound, I was no stranger to a day at the bath, however, this gigantic complex was like none I'd ever seen. Inside is the thermal bath section with numerous pools each varying in different temperatures, as well as several saunas and steam rooms. Outside is the swimming pool area with three pools. We spent Easter evening here and enjoyed soaking in the water and letting the healthy minerals do their thing after two days and nights of being on the go non-stop!

Outside entrance to Szechenyi Baths

Swimming pool area of Szechenyi Baths. Yes, there were a LOT of speedos.

Seeing Red

Entrance to House of Terror

Reminders of the Soviet regime are relatively easy to find in Budapest. The House of Terror is a museum built in the former headquarters of the darkest sides of two different regimes, the Nazi and communist occupation. This museum exhibits propaganda posters, a re-created interrogation room, among many other displays, and video-taped interviews with victims, to portray the terror of this time of "double occupation" in Hungary's history. Afterward, we continued our red campaign, by having a beer break at Marxim - a communist kitsch pizzaria.

House of Terror Museum

A Soviet tank and huge wall covered with portraits of the victims

Posing with Lenin

At Marxim - A pizzaria with communist memorabilia and kitsch

When regimes fall, so do their monuments. People couldn't wait to get rid of these reminders of their oppressors. Various statues were gathered throughout Budapest and placed in a park, Memento Park, outside the city. It is a fascinating place to discover the Red old days. Jon and Lenin doing his famous "hailing a cab" pose.

Charging into the future with our Soviet comrade

Budapest by Night

Three days and three nights was simply not enough time to see all of Budapest, but we managed to see as much as possible by having both extremely full days AND nights. This was an incredible city for not only site-seeing during the day, but there was plenty of night-life to keep us occupied; from deciding on where to have dinner, to pub-hopping and a cruise down the Danube at night this city has something for everyone. Although we enjoyed each of our distinctly different nights out on the town, our one big night out began with a delicious dinner at Karpatia. We enjoyed delicious Hungarian and Transylvanian specialties with authentic live gypsy music.

After dinner, we trekked to the A38 Hajo (boat) moored on the Buda side of the Danube. This decommissioned Ukrainian stone hauler from 1968 has been reinvented as a party venue where we got the night started. Later, we made our way back to Pest where we stumbled upon a bar we had to stop in, if only for its name......, "Paris, Texas. "

A38 Hajo

Paris, Texas Bar

We ended the night at Janis Pub where we were delighted to see karaoke was on the menu. There was a group of Hungarians there singing who all knew each other... and us. After only signing up to sing a few minutes before, our name was called and it was time to sing our signature song, "Love Shack." I could tell the group was pleasantly surprised by our performance, and the main guy came over to chat with us. Turns out they are in a band that plays cover songs and he wanted to sing several songs with Jon as most of his friends don't know the American music he likes to sing. Jon was the hit of the party and we made fast friends. At the end of the night, we chose to sing a very cheesy, yet somewhat appropriate song, before we all parted ways. Arm in arm, the group of us gathered in a circle to belt out, "We are the World." One thing's for sure, I will never forget this memorable night out in Budapest!

Jon and some of our new Hungarian friends

Our last night in Budapest, we experienced the perfect finale to our Easter weekend. We cruised along the Danube and were able to see the city alight with its reflection glowing in the river below. It was truly a magical night and caused me to believe that Budapest by night, may be a contender for one of Europe's most beautiful cities.

A view of the bridges of Budapest (Liberty, Elizabeth, and Chain)

Liberty bridge and Gellert Hill

Chain bridge and Buda Castle

Parliament on left, Chain bridge, and Buda Castle on right

Parliament

View of Buda's Castle Hill

Chain bridge and Matthias Church

Chain bridge and Buda Castle

Chain bridge and Matthias church

One thing is certain, we will never forget this memorable and incredible weekend in Budapest!

Year Four

2011-05-05T09:12:00.001+02:00

Today, Cinco de Mayo, Jon and I celebrate the anniversary of our fourth year of marriage. Although we started dating 10 years ago, the years since our wedding have absolutely flown by and have been the most thrilling and amazing time of my life. I'm sure part of the blissfulness is due to our incredible opportunity to live in Europe for the past four years. Our first home together was our apartment in Wiesbaden, Germany. And although our official honeymoon was in Croatia, we've experienced countless trips together extending our honeymoon to our new home in Sittard, the Netherlands. We've been fortunate to travel to 16 countries together as husband and wife, each one a grand adventure.

As is tradition on our anniversary, we watched our wedding video, which captured the most beautiful, meaningful and incredible event imaginable. Each year the video brings me to tears as I listen to the heartfelt speeches and as we read our vows, but also from laughter at the hysterical dancing and video toasts. Of our four anniversaries, we've only shared two together on the actual date, and this year we are apart again. Perhaps for this reason I feel compelled to write about this special day in the Jon and Cat saga.

I remember the exact moment when Jon received his assignment for Germany. We were in West Texas in the David Mountains at Bloys Camp Meeting and he received a call on his cell phone. He told me the news and I immediately wrapped my arms around him and whispered in his ear... "don't leave me." It was no secret to my friends and family that it has been a life-long dream to live in Europe after my travels and study abroad time there. After learning Jon would be moving there, I knew it was destiny for me to go to. Plus, although we had mastered the long-distance relationship, a transcontinental relationship was a whole other challenge I wasn't sure I was up for. One month later, he proposed while we were riding horse-back on my family's ranch. It was so incredibly romantic and 8 months later we married there. Two weeks later we were living in Europe for what we thought would be 2 years, and yet four years later we're still here.

Living in Europe isn't always pure honeymoon delight, as many may think. Yes, we are able to travel to another country at the drop of a hat and take part in the many festivals and events that are unique to Europe, but there are many things we miss. Such as our families and friends and all those life events we constantly feel we miss out on. In many ways I feel this has allowed Jon and I to gain an intense closeness as we have become our own family unit, each other's travel partner, confidante and best friend. I have enjoyed every minute of this marriage with the most fun and positive man alive. Although I love the life we have now, I know I would love it just as much if we were living in middle America or anywhere else in the world. As long as we are together, our life will be full of love, happiness and plenty of adventures along the way. Happy Anniversary, Juan!

Berlin at a Fast Pace

2011-04-21T19:32:00.000+02:00

April kicked off "race into shape" month, and the first race on the agenda was the Berlin half marathon. Some friends had planned to do this race and extended the invitation for us to join in the fun and although this was my fifth visit (Jon's third), to Berlin, we are always up for another adventure in this energetic and hip city. Although we only had a weekend, we managed to experience Berlin at a fast pace both off and on the race course.

We arrived Friday night after a grueling 6 hours on the autobahn with plenty of 'staus' (traffic jams) and construction sites along the way. We immediately headed out for a night on the town and headed to Oranienburgstrasse where we frequented some of our favorite bars - an underground pub and a vacant warehouse now utilized as a rotating artist exhibits and a thriving music scene with several different bars and clubs. We ended the night in the neighborhood around our hotel at a communist-themed bar with great live music. One thing's for sure, there is nightlife abounding in Berlin to suit anyone's taste.

Underground pub on Oranienburgerstrasse

Meandering through the many floors of the warehouse checking out the Berlin art scene

Warehouse Pose

Behind warehouse with bar shacks and a sandy "beach" atmoshphere

The red-lit commi bar behind our hotel with Kalashnikovs as decoration

On Saturday, we spent our entire day being outdoors as much as possible to enjoy the warmer Spring weather. We walked from our hotel to the nearby Berliner Dom and continued down Berlin's most famous avenue, the Unter den Linden, to the Brandenburg Gate. The picture below captures both the grandness of the Berliner Dom with the TV tower in the distance. Considered the symbol of Berlin, the tower was completed in 1969. The Dom represents the rebuilding of the city after the war (as the dome was completely destroyed from a bomb) and the TV tower represents the enduring strength of Berliners after Communist rule who would not stand for oppression of love or worship. It is incredible to be in a city with not only so much history, but recent history at that.

Brandenburg Tor

The guys (Jon G., Jon and Brian) in between the U.S. Embassy and the Brandenburg Tor

Jewish Memorial

After a morning of sight-seeing with our friends, and an afternoon at the half-marathon expo where we picked up our race numbers, we were quite exhausted from the activity-packed day. We relaxed on the rooftop of our hotel, soaking up the sunshine and kicking up our heels in preparation of the upcoming race. After a group dinner, Jon proceeded to move at a fast pace by hanging with the guys for a night out, while I retired to my room in hope to get some good sleep and rest my legs.

Relaxing on the roof of our hotel

Guys night out on the town

We awoke to a beautiful, sunny race day and were in high spirits before the race, despite our tired legs. We lined up at the start with over 26,000 fellow runners and began our 13.1 mile journey crossing through the former East and West of Berlin. The race course itself was a sight-seeing adventure, running down the Unter den Linden, through the Brandenburg Tor, the Tiergarten, over to the former West, turning by Schloss Charlottenburg, past Potsdamer Platz and Checkpoint Charlie, and circling around Alexanderplatz. Due to the sheer numbers of the race, it was impossible to set into a consistent pace until about mile 6, and by then I was worn out from all the dodging and weaving. I realized that I probably wouldn't set a PR on this course, but Jon and I both still managed to finish within 2 minutes of our goal time.

Berlin Half Marathon race course

Jon posing in the midst of the Berlin Victory Column

Ladies at the Finish

Finisher Photo with the Flag of Berlin

Although our time was quite short, we managed to experience an incredible weekend in Berlin at a fast pace and are already looking forward to our return to explore more of this fascinating city. Now... off to Budapest to complete the month of April with a bang!

Spring has Sprung

2011-04-11T15:40:00.000+02:00

Spring has officially sprung in our backyard. Only a mere few weeks ago, the trees were still bare in the orchard and the hedges were only just starting to fill in with their leafy covering. It is absolutely beautiful to see the gorgeous apple and cherry trees in full bloom, and minuscule purple and yellow flowers covering the ground. We have been enjoying some of the most gorgeous spring weather this past week with blue skies, plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the mid 60-s and low 70s. Unfortunately, our weather is about to take a turn, so I wanted to capture this perfect day with some pictures of the backyard. Of course a camera does not do justice to the real thing, but here's a glimpse of a beautiful April day in the Netherlands.

Apple and cherry trees in bloom

The large cherry tree in the back is just ending its blooming period and the two walnut trees are the last to grow its leaves. Pretty soon, our wall of green will be completely filled in and we won't be able to see a bit of the brick building behind us.

Jon has spent the past couple weeks on his hands and knees scrubbin' the deck to rid the weeds and moss that grew between the tiles. It was hard meticulous work, but it looks so much better and was finished just in time to kick-off the start of outdoor BBQ season. On Sunday, we enjoyed having friends over for a post-race BBQ at the house. It was the perfect celebration of our first annual participation in the Sittard Mooiste (beautiful) 15k run.

Nothing like fresh spring flowers to decorate the house and a branch from an apple tree to hang Easter eggs from.