FRANCE~BELGIUM~HOLLAND

Friday, May 6th, 2011

We met Cam & Kim's flight and whisked them away to

P A R I  S   D I S N E Y !

It was their 1st priority, having visited the heart of Paris on a previous trip.

As huge Disney fans, we were thrilled to accommodate their wish.  

 Besides, where else does Buzz Lightyear speak french?

 "Verso l'infinito e oltre"

The rides were great.  Lines were short.  Food was good.

NOT Cinderella's castle...

just another picturesque cathedral in the north of France.

We hunkered down for the night in Normandy

Saturday, May 7th

Normandy Beaches, France

~ Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah ~

The U.S. Army, 1st Infantry Division, hit Omaha Beach hard on D-Day, June 6, 1944

Also nicknamed the "The Big Red One" and "The Fighting First", their motto is

"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great ~ Duty First"

"The Battle belonged that morning to the thin, 
wet line of Khaki that dragged itself 
ashore on The Channel Coast of France."  

General Omar Bradley, U.S. First Army Commander

Battle of Normandy, day 1

160,000 allied forces landed, approx 12,000 casualties 

Sunday, May 8th

Haarlem, Holland

We arrived in time for church services.  A ward member (Sister Muurling) greeted Cameron by name, "Elder Howell!".  Returning after 17 years with a beard, a wife and parents, that was pretty amazing!  We spent the afternoon with the Muurling family.  

Out of the blue we received a call from Randi, then we realized that "Sister Howell" was making her mother's day call.  What an outstanding day!

Monday, May 9th

Brugge & Antwerpen, Belgium

Today the GPS took us on the most ridiculous route.  The journey was suspenseful, scenic and hilarious.  Eventually we arrived at the correct destination!

I love Kim's description, It took us in some out of the way places that were enchanting to see. On our way to Antwerpen the GPS took us on some fun side roads. Hairy donkeys, cow pastures....and Lane mooing so loud from the side of the road. Amidst all the laughing from Lane's mooing, the cow poops...and from out of Lane's mouth "I scared the crap out of the cow."

The architecture is Lane's style.  Imagine a tiny 
version of this...and you will see our next house.

This resilient rose thrived outside our quaint hotel.

Lunch break...love the friets (Belgium fries) and 
waffles and chocolate and...Mmm, mmm.

We toured chocolate, potato and lace museums.

Carolyn's favorite food group - THEE POTATO GROUP!  

Gotta dig the various shapes, sizes and colors.  Smashing!

Back to Holland. And the Hague Temple.  
This temple is most unusual.  No fence.  The church 
only owns the land where the footprint of the building is.  

What?  Gargoyle, obviously!  Atop the gothic 
Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Delft, built 1396-1496.

If this post weren't already obnoxiously long there would be 
photos of the four of us sampling raw pickled herring.  
Grasping the slippery fish between my fingers I managed 
to hold on by digging in with my fingernails.  
Ewwww, the slimy residue was sick.

Let's settle for something we all loved...Gouda cheese!  So Goodah! 

Haarlem -revisited.

A moving and unforgettable tour took place in the 
home of a heroic watchmaker and his family.

Lane followed up by reading "The Hiding Place" 
to more fully appreciate it.

During World War II, the Ten Boom home became a refuge, a hiding place, for those hunted by the Nazis. By protecting these people, Casper and his daughters, Corrie and Betsie, risked their lives. This non-violent resistance against the Nazi-oppressors was the Ten Booms' way of living out their Christian faith. This faith led them to hide Jews, other refugees, and members of the Dutch underground resistance movement.  The Ten Booms were eventually arrested.  Casper and Betsie died in concentration camps but Corrie miraculously survived Ravensbruck, later writing "The Hiding Place."

Amsterdam

City of canals, street markets, bicyclists, museums, good Mexican food...really!

And teeny trucks.

And pickpockets.

Alkmaar

Memories include:  the daily bakery search, 'weighing-in' 
at the cheese market, wooden shoe carvers, nasty licorice, 
sweet canals, more friets, and poffertjes (small fluffy pancakes).

Most memorable: the Rondvaart, this canal ride R U L E D !  

It was an open boat that went under half a dozen 
bridges where we were forced to lie down on 
the seats or in the aisles to clear each bridge.  The 
bottom side of one bridge was only 18" above the water.

It wouldn't be Holland without...

W I N D M I L L S

 ~ The icon of the Netherlands ~

OLD and the NEW

It was a standout week to spend with Cam and Kim.  

Thank you both for planning an incredible 

vacation and letting us tag along!  

Our memories will linger and linger and linger...

On Saturday, May 14th we parted ways.

Oregon Howells flew home.

Gypsy Howells flew to Seattle to meet a grandson.

Love, love, love,

Mom & Dad

Carolyn & Lane

Perfect Picnic in Paris, FRANCE

PARIS

We arrived in Paris late in the day on Tuesday, May 4th.

Our GPS found our hotel, conveniently located between the heart of Paris and the Charles De Gualle Airport.  Strolling through the neighborhood we settled on a Chinese Restaurant before tuck-in time.

It's exciting to be here.  I can hardly wait to see the Eiffel Tower in the morning.  I would just like to sit in it's shadow and stare at it all day.  

 

Wednesday morning.  Tomorrow we pick up Cam and Kim at the airport for a 10 day trip they have planned.  But for today we stall in Paris.  

What would you do if you had ONE day in Paris?  No reservations, no deadlines, no appointments.

Here's what we chose:

1)  Drive directly to the nearest parking garage at the base of 

The Eiffel Tower  

We circled the Arc de Triomphe.  There are 12 streets fanning out from it like giant spokes.  Our trusty yet dizzy GPS almost had a heart attack trying to tell us which street to exit as we drove round and round taking photos.

Straight UP from the underside of Eiffel.

We spent a relaxing afternoon sitting on the common, 

eating a picnic lunch

and people watching.

We sat and stared at it for about 3 hours!!!

2 & 3) Stroll the streets of Paris crossing over one of the 37 bridges, basking in the sun and amazing views along 

The Seine River 

enroute to 

The Louvre

We got there late in the day, so we only wandered the lobby areas...even those are famous!  This place will take a week to see on a subsequent visit.  Soooooo big!!! 

 This picture shows the imagery of the famous glass pyramid outside the Louvre,

 but this one is hanging upside-down in the basement, letting volumes of light in.

4)  We resume our pedestrian path and wind our way to
Notre Dame Cathedral  

Close-up above the front doors

The east end (my favorite) showing the flying buttresses and various other Gothic architectural elements.

Soaking in the atmosphere. IPad Scrabble.

Serendipity

We enjoyed a crepe dinner, taxied back to our car and double parked it at the ET base.  9:58 p.m.  We risked a ticket to run back unto the common for an evening shot of the Tower.  Crowds had gathered. At 10:00 we happened upon a fabulous 5 minute light show of 20,000 flashing light bulbs.

Serendipity

Arc de Triomphe

We ended the day as it began.  Doing loops around this gigantic arch.  

It was one of those rare, perfect days!  

This city is astounding.  I could live here! 

We hope to return.

Tomorrow the ride continues...Paris Disney

Love, Mom and Dad

Carolyn and Lane

GERMANY

May 1st-4th, 2011  

GERMANY

   

We left Switzerland and made a beeline to Paris France.  Which only afforded us 4 days in Germany.  Not nearly enough time to see Berlin, so we settled on 3 major stops;  Füssen, Munich and Frankfurt.  [Actually we stopped in Füssen, close to the Austrian border, on a side trip April 28th as we drove from Innsbruck to Zurich.]

FÜSSEN

The magnificient Neunschwanstein Castle (resting mid-hill in the background) in near Füssen.  Carolyn couldn't resist stretching out in this beautiful field of flowers.  She is the epitome of the Energizer Bunny, but even the Bunny needs to recharge at times.

Walt Disney patterned his castles after this one. 




 Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, in 1885, he lived here only 172 days before he was declared "incompetent" by family members and fellow countrymen.  The next day he mysteriously died.

Now...just how do family members get the right to declare their Dad "incompetent"?  Do I have to be on the lookout?

We found deep fried bread during the climb to the castle.  It was so memorable we would return merely for the sweet hot bread balls.
















MUNICH

LDS church in Munich.  Modern, clean, in an up-scale commercial area.  

However, they only spoke German during the meeting, so they were difficult to understand.  But, luckily, a sweet sister missionary translated for us during the testimony meeting.  Carolyn sang the songs in German, but Lane had to sing in English.  Otherwise the words "didn't fit the notes" as Lane knew them.

Interior of another church.  An old cathedral, but light and bright and freshly painted.  And very beautiful.

Munich government building.    

Bratwurst.  Notice the typical bun is a round, short one.  Strange.  But the taste is wonderful.

Park near our hotel in Munich

FRANKFURT

Frankfurt Temple.  Actually, it is the smaller town of Friedrichsdorf.  It is on a small lot in a residential neighborhood.  We enjoyed a session with English translation via earphones. 

Old Town - Frankfurt.  The picture speaks for itself. 




 But Frankfurt is really known for its elegant skyscrapers with VERY modern architecture.

Frankfurt is the dynamic business and financial center of Germany and the 5th largest city in the country.








The grass is beginning to grow under our feet.  We've spent 2 nights in the same hotel...


Bring on a road trip to PARIS!




Love, Mom & Dad
(Carolyn & Lane)